DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14134#0081
edges were parallel with, those of the lower part, so
that the two parts should be exactly doubled. Either
supposition is consistent with the notion that the piece
of cloth represents the Panathenaic peplos. The bearded
elderly figure (No. 33) would then be some high func-
tionary. It has been proposed to call this figure the
Basileus Archon, but it seems more probable that it
represents one of the Treasurers of the sacred property of
Athene to whose custody the peplos may have been confided.
On the left side of the bearded man but turned in the
opposite direction is the female figure (No. 32) who is
probably the priestess of Athene Polias. She extends
both hands to take from the head of the female figure
before her (No. 31) a four-legged stool, diphros. A
similar stool is borne on the head of the figure following
(No. 30). On each of these stools is a circular object of
which the upper surface is slightly convex and which in
form is not unlike a loaf of bread. Michaelis supposes
this to be a thick cushion on the seat of the diphros;
the shape is more like that of the cushions, proske-
phalaia, on which guests reclined at a Greek banquet,
than that of a cushion on the seat of a chair as
represented in Greek art. It is possible that some
sacred object to be offered to Athene may be here repre-
sented. The stools themselves were no doubt sacred
diphri, such as we find entered in the Treasure lists, and
must have been part of the sacred furniture, pompeia,
used in the procession. The bearers of these diphri (Nos.
31 and 30) are of lower stature than the priestess (No. 32) ;
this difference of scale may indicate their youth, but
more probably their subordinate rank. The shorter figure
(No. 30) holds in her left hand some object too much broken
away to be made out, which may have some connection with
the objects borne by these figures. Between the diphri and
their heads is a circular pad, tulos, speira, such as Greek
that the two parts should be exactly doubled. Either
supposition is consistent with the notion that the piece
of cloth represents the Panathenaic peplos. The bearded
elderly figure (No. 33) would then be some high func-
tionary. It has been proposed to call this figure the
Basileus Archon, but it seems more probable that it
represents one of the Treasurers of the sacred property of
Athene to whose custody the peplos may have been confided.
On the left side of the bearded man but turned in the
opposite direction is the female figure (No. 32) who is
probably the priestess of Athene Polias. She extends
both hands to take from the head of the female figure
before her (No. 31) a four-legged stool, diphros. A
similar stool is borne on the head of the figure following
(No. 30). On each of these stools is a circular object of
which the upper surface is slightly convex and which in
form is not unlike a loaf of bread. Michaelis supposes
this to be a thick cushion on the seat of the diphros;
the shape is more like that of the cushions, proske-
phalaia, on which guests reclined at a Greek banquet,
than that of a cushion on the seat of a chair as
represented in Greek art. It is possible that some
sacred object to be offered to Athene may be here repre-
sented. The stools themselves were no doubt sacred
diphri, such as we find entered in the Treasure lists, and
must have been part of the sacred furniture, pompeia,
used in the procession. The bearers of these diphri (Nos.
31 and 30) are of lower stature than the priestess (No. 32) ;
this difference of scale may indicate their youth, but
more probably their subordinate rank. The shorter figure
(No. 30) holds in her left hand some object too much broken
away to be made out, which may have some connection with
the objects borne by these figures. Between the diphri and
their heads is a circular pad, tulos, speira, such as Greek