A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities Part 56

Kaineus is half-buried and holds his s.h.i.+eld above his head. He probably held a sword in the right hand. Both Centaurs wear lions'

skins. The same subject occurs on the frieze of the Theseion. Next on the right is a Lapith armed with s.h.i.+eld and helmet, who seems to be dragging the Centaur by the hair. A woman moves to the right, holding her floating mantle with her right hand.

Length, 5 feet 3-1/2 inches. _Synopsis_, No. 4; _Mus. Marbles_, IV., pl. 4; Stackelberg, pl. 26; Brunn, _Denkmaeler_, No. 90.

[Sidenote: =531.=]

The remaining slab on this side contains a part of the battle of Greeks and Amazons. As the Amazon slabs are longer than the slabs of Centaurs by about 10 feet, it is clear that they must have filled two sides and a part of a third. (See above, p. 278.)

On the left a Greek and an Amazon are engaged in combat. The Greek has a helmet, boots, and a chiton which leaves the right shoulder bare. He advances his left arm with the mantle hanging from it, in the manner of Harmodios in the group of the Athenian Tyrannicides (compare the Panathenaic vase in the Fourth Vase Room, which has this group on the s.h.i.+eld of Athene). The Amazon wears a similar chiton, and rushes forward against the Greek, in the att.i.tude of the Aristogeiton in the group mentioned above. On the right a wounded Amazon has sunk to the ground, and is supported by a companion who wears the chiton split at the side (_schistos_), like that of the Iris of the east pediment of the Parthenon.

Length, 4 feet 6-1/2 inches; _Synopsis_, No. 20; _Mus. Marbles_, IV., pl. 20; Stackelberg, pl. 17.

PHIGALEIAN FRIEZE, EAST SIDE.

[Sidenote: =532.=]

On the left of the slab a Greek tries to drag an Amazon along by the hair. She is now unarmed, and tries to resist with both hands and with the weight of her body. Her s.h.i.+eld is seen in the background. On the right an Amazon who has sunk to the ground, but appears not to be badly wounded, is defended by a companion who stands beside her, and stretches out a large s.h.i.+eld.

Length, 4 feet 6-3/4 inches. _Synopsis_, No. 12; _Mus. Marbles_, IV., pl. 12; Stackelberg, pl. 7.

[Sidenote: =533.=]

On the left a Greek makes a fierce attack on an enemy represented in the adjoining slab, which was probably the one just described. He has his sword arm raised above his head for a strong blow.

In the centre is a vigorous combat between a Greek and Amazon. The Greek covers himself with his s.h.i.+eld and draws back for a spear thrust. The action of the Amazon appears to be that of thrusting a spear. The s.h.i.+eld on her left arm is not expressed. In the tightly stretched skirt of the chiton the sculptor has sacrificed grace for truth to nature and vivid movement. On the right, an Amazon who has just received a mortal wound, is seen falling to the ground, with all her limbs relaxed.

Length, 4 feet 5-3/4 inches. _Synopsis_, No. 13; _Mus. Marbles_, IV., pl. 13; Stackelberg, pl. 8; Brunn, _Denkmaeler_, No. 88.

[Sidenote: =534.=]

On the left a Greek drags down an Amazon from her horse, grasping her hair with the left hand. He probably held a sword in the right hand.

The Amazon tries feebly to loosen his grasp. She wears the split chiton, like the Amazon of slab No. 531. On the right is an Amazon, who draws back a little, extending her s.h.i.+eld, and at the same time raising her right hand to strike. Here, as in No. 533, the drapery is tightly stretched. The upper part of the figure of the Greek had been lost when the marbles were being transported from the temple. It was afterwards found in a house near Ba.s.sae, and was _presented by J.

Spencer Stanhope, Esq., 1816._ (Cf. Stackelberg, p. 23.)

Length, 4 feet 4-3/4 inches. _Synopsis_, No. 17; _Mus. Marbles_, IV., pl. 17; Stackelberg, pl. 13; Brunn, _Denkmaeler_, No. 87.

[Sidenote: =535.=]

An unarmed Amazon has taken refuge at an altar; a Greek has seized her by the hair, and tries to drag her away. The Amazon resists using her weight, and both arms. The Greek had a sword in his right hand.

On the right a Greek and Amazon are engaged in hand to hand combat, extending their s.h.i.+elds and engaged in fence with their swords. The drapery of the Amazon is treated as on the two last slabs.

Length, 4 feet 6-3/4 inches. _Synopsis_, No. 22; _Mus. Marbles_, IV., pl. 22; Stackelberg, pl. 16; Brunn, _Denkmaeler_, No. 86.

[Sidenote: =536.=]

A large part of the group on the left is wanting. The Greek appears to be dragging the fallen Amazon by the hair, and at the same time to be treading her down with his right foot. With both hands she tries to free herself from the grasp of the Greek. On the right, a Greek has fallen on his knees and holds up his s.h.i.+eld as a defence against the victorious Amazon, whose right hand and sword are raised to strike.

Length, 4 feet 6-3/4 inches. _Synopsis_, No. 15; _Mus. Marbles_, IV., pl. 15; Stackelberg, pl. 12.

[Sidenote: =537.=]

An Amazon is disarmed, and has fallen to the ground. She stretches out her right hand, as if in entreaty to a Greek who treads with his left foot on her knee, and is about to thrust with his sword. A second Greek approaches from the left. On the right an Amazon strides quickly forward to help her companion, and is about to strike the Greek.

Length, 4 feet 4-3/4 inches. _Synopsis_, No. 21; _Mus. Marbles_, IV., pl. 21; Stackelberg, pl. 11.

[Sidenote: =538.=]

On the left, a Greek who is bearded and heavily armed, has thrown down an Amazon, whom he drags by the hair, while she tries to keep him at arm's length. On the right the Greek has fallen on his knees, and holds up his s.h.i.+eld against the attack of the Amazon.

Length, 4 feet 5-3/4 inches. _Synopsis_, No. 19; _Mus. Marbles_, IV., pl. 19; Stackelberg, pl. 15.

[Sidenote: =539.=]

A Greek who has been killed in the battle, and perhaps stripped, is being borne off the field on a companion's back. Another Greek who has been badly wounded in the right leg, leaves the field, leaning with his right hand on a spear, now wanting. He puts his left arm round the neck of a companion, who supports him round the body. In the centre of the slab an Amazon draws away a s.h.i.+eld which belonged to one of the Greeks.

Length, 4 feet 9-1/4 inches. _Synopsis_, No. 14; _Mus. Marbles_, IV., pl. 14; Stackelberg, pl. 18.

PHIGALEIAN FRIEZE, SOUTH SIDE.

[Sidenote: =540.=]

This slab has a rebate on the left side, proving that it belongs to the left end of a frieze. On the left, a wounded Greek lying on the ground, is partly raised by a companion, who eagerly watches the fight, but for the moment only holds his sword in the left hand, while he uses his right hand to support the wounded man. A similar group occurs on the frieze of the Temple of Nike (No. 421).

On the right a Greek and Amazon are fighting hotly. The Greek presses forward, and the Amazon at the same time draws back, collecting her strength for a blow. The Amazon wears the split chiton.

Length, 4 feet 8-3/4 inches. _Synopsis_, No. 16; _Mus. Marbles_, IV., pl. 16; Stackelberg, pl. 10.

[Sidenote: =541.=]

The middle of the central slab is occupied by a single combat between Heracles and an Amazon. They are represented drawing back for a blow.

The Amazon seems to be making a spear thrust while Heracles raises his club. The Amazon extends her s.h.i.+eld; Heracles carries the lion skin on his left arm. The pose of these two combatants who have the most important position in the whole frieze, is very similar to that of the Poseidon and Athene of the west pediment of the Parthenon. In both cases also the central group is bounded by figures of horses. The figure here called Heracles has also been interpreted as Theseus. On the left, a mounted Amazon is victorious, and thrusts with a spear at a wounded and fallen Greek. On the right, the Greek is the victor; he seizes the Amazon by arm and foot and throws her off her horse, which has fallen on its knees.

Length, 5 feet 10 inches. _Synopsis_, No. 18; _Mus. Marbles_, IV., pl. 18; Stackelberg, pl. 14; Brunn, _Denkmaeler_, No. 89.

[Sidenote: =542.=]

A young Greek, wounded and fallen to the ground, raises his right hand, as if in defence against the blow about to be struck by the Amazon standing over him. Another Amazon hastily approaches from the left, and stretches out her hands, as if in defence of the Greek. On the right of the slab, an Amazon supports a wounded comrade, who is sinking to the ground with her head drooping and all her muscles relaxed.

Length, 4 feet 2-1/4 inches. _Synopsis_, No. 23; _Mus. Marbles_, IV., pl. 23; Stackelberg, pl. 9.

FRAGMENTS OF THE TEMPLE STATUE OF APOLLO.

A few small fragments of a colossal male statue were discovered during the excavations. As the fragments found belong to the extremities of the figure, and since they are proved to have been separate pieces attached, by the dowel holes, it is inferred that the statue was _acrolithic_, _i.e._, that the extremities only were of marble, while the rest of the figure was made of wood or other inferior material.

The original statue of Apollo Epicurios had been moved to Megalopolis from Ba.s.sae, before the time of Pausanias (Paus. viii., 30, 3).