Papers of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (5.1886-1890)

SCULPTURES FROM IK ARIA.

119

ture of Heraklos and the Muses; though these are connected on a vase
recently published,31 and on a few Roman coins,32 all which examples
are to be traced to the Muses which the Roman consul Fulvius No-
bilior carried off from Ambrakia and set up in a temple dedicated to
Hercules Musarum.33 In a Chian inscription (C.I. G., 2214), the victors
in gymnastic contests made libations rat? re Moucrat? icai T&J'Hpa/cXet
(c/.'E/3/i.ou KaVHpaicXeovs icai Movtr&v, Teos; Dittenberger,Syll.,No.
349). But these reliefs have especial interest and importance on the
art side, belonging, as they do, to the best period of the fourth century,
and showing much analogy with the reliefs of Apollo, Marsyas, and
the Muses, from the pedestal of a group by Praxiteles at Mantineia.34
XI.—In plate vn-3 is represented a well-preserved ex-voto slab
of a not uncommon type, representing a small temple with pilasters.
On the lower edge there is a projection intended to fit into a socket.
The cornice is ornamented with a range of antefixes placed at equal
intervals.35 Height of slab, 0.27 m.; width, 0.31 m.; projection at
bottom, 0.05 m. deep and 0.08 m. wide. It was found in front of the
two upright slabs in the pronaos of the Pythion (see plan, H, i and k).
In the middle, Apollo is seated upon the omphalos, enveloped in a
voluminous bimation, which is draped in such a way as to leave his
breast and right shoulder and arm bare. With his left hand he raises
a lustration-branch, while in his right he holds a phiale. The repre-
sentation of divinities holding vessels for the libation is not rare in
the fifth century and later, and, according to Furtwiingler,36 is the re-
sult of a strong tendency, seen in vases of the period of Pheidias, to
represent the gods in human relations. A certain degree of archaism
is evident in the head and in the treatment of the curls. In front of
Apollo stands the altar before which the worshipper is stationed, with
his bimation loosely thrown about him, and his right arm raised in
the usual gesture of adoration. This figure displays a very close re-
semblance to some of the worshippers in the Asklepios reliefs,37 also
to the worshipper on the ex-voto relief to Zeus Meilichios, found at the

31 Notizie dcgli Scavi, 1S84, pi. Yin, p. 377. 3i Cf. Bik, Die Musen, p. 25.

53 Pliny, H.N., xxxv. 6G; Eumenius, Pro restaur, schol., vn.
"Bull, de corr. hellen., 1888, plates i, n, m; pp. 104-28.

35 [The spectator is conceived to be standing by the side of the temple and look-
ing in upon the scene enacted there, as if no wall existed to interrupt the view.—
A. C. M.]

™Mitlh. Inst. Allien, 1881, i>. 317.

37 Cf. Bull, de corr. helUn., 1878, pi. vn ; Mitth. Inst. Athen, 1877, pi. xvn.