Peleus and Thetis

Based on a cup by Peithinos, c. 500 BC. Antikenmuseum, Berlin-Charlottenburg. 
Peleus seems to kneel before Thetis rather than wrestle with her. He does not appear too troubled by the lion on his back or the snakes entwining themselves round his arm and leg. Though these animals represent the different shapes that Thetis adopted to avoid Peleus’ grasp, Peleus’ sword remains in its scabbard: he does not want to harm her.