DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.656#0056
52
manded the reason of their mirth, when they told him of their
mother's prophecy, on heaving which, the hero joined in their
laughter, and then liberated them1.
The sculpture of the metope answers extremely well to the
story as here given". Hercules is represented as a strong, mus-
cular, naked figure ; his quiver is suspended by a belt, which
passes over the right shoulder, and his victims, bound hand and
foot, are fastened by thongs at the knees and ancles to his bow,
which he carries across his shoulders, [(lacing his left hand
on the knees of one of the figures. The two prisoners present
a very ludicrous appearance, and, in consequence of their re-
versed position, the hair falls down in a curious manner ; their
countenances have much of the Egyptian expression or cha-
racter in them. Many parts of this metope also were painted ;
the girdle and quiver of Hercules were red, and there are some
remains of the same colour upon the right arm, immediately
below the shoulder ; the thongs which bound the Cercopes were
also coloured red. The mseander ornament on the fascia or
capital is more distinctly seen on this than on the other metopes.
This metope is unfortunately much broken, the parts which
were found consisting of thirty-three fragments ; the metope as
represented in Plate VII. was found in twenty-four pieces, and
that in Plate VI. was found in no less than fifty-nine pieces.
1 A very ancient MS. in the library of tlie Archbishop of Metz relates, that Hercules,
indignant at seeing tliem laugh at ilieir late, iL.lnil thorn to death on the ground. Mont-
faueon, I'Antkniite hAplii|iue, tome I. c. VII.
1 This subject is represented on a rase in tlie possession of the Duca di Scrra di Falco
at Palermo, and alto on one published by Millhigcii in his " Pcintures de Vases Grccs",
p. 56. The figure of Hercules also is seen on some of the ancient coins of Selinus. See
Sieilia1 Velores Nnmnri. lab. i.wi.
manded the reason of their mirth, when they told him of their
mother's prophecy, on heaving which, the hero joined in their
laughter, and then liberated them1.
The sculpture of the metope answers extremely well to the
story as here given". Hercules is represented as a strong, mus-
cular, naked figure ; his quiver is suspended by a belt, which
passes over the right shoulder, and his victims, bound hand and
foot, are fastened by thongs at the knees and ancles to his bow,
which he carries across his shoulders, [(lacing his left hand
on the knees of one of the figures. The two prisoners present
a very ludicrous appearance, and, in consequence of their re-
versed position, the hair falls down in a curious manner ; their
countenances have much of the Egyptian expression or cha-
racter in them. Many parts of this metope also were painted ;
the girdle and quiver of Hercules were red, and there are some
remains of the same colour upon the right arm, immediately
below the shoulder ; the thongs which bound the Cercopes were
also coloured red. The mseander ornament on the fascia or
capital is more distinctly seen on this than on the other metopes.
This metope is unfortunately much broken, the parts which
were found consisting of thirty-three fragments ; the metope as
represented in Plate VII. was found in twenty-four pieces, and
that in Plate VI. was found in no less than fifty-nine pieces.
1 A very ancient MS. in the library of tlie Archbishop of Metz relates, that Hercules,
indignant at seeing tliem laugh at ilieir late, iL.lnil thorn to death on the ground. Mont-
faueon, I'Antkniite hAplii|iue, tome I. c. VII.
1 This subject is represented on a rase in tlie possession of the Duca di Scrra di Falco
at Palermo, and alto on one published by Millhigcii in his " Pcintures de Vases Grccs",
p. 56. The figure of Hercules also is seen on some of the ancient coins of Selinus. See
Sieilia1 Velores Nnmnri. lab. i.wi.