DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14134#0083
73
key to the whole composition of the frieze. The surface
of the peplos in this group is left quite plain, but some
indication of its embroidered design may have been given
by colour. On two of the Panathenaic vases found at
Teucheira in the Cyrenaica (Guide to 2nd Vase Eoom,
1878, Pt. i. p. 13) the garment of Athene is richly
embroidered with figures and flowers, and it is probable,
that the type of the goddess represented on these vases is
adapted from her archaic statue in the temple of Athene
Polias, where the peplos was offered. On a statue of
Athene in the Dresden Collection (Clarac, PL 459, No.
855), the embroidery of the peplos is indicated by groups
like metopes relieved on a vertical strip of the jpeplos,
which goes down the centre of the figure. With these
indications of the ornaments of the peplos in art may be
compared the embroidered robe worn by Demeter on the
vase engraved Monum. d. Inst. Arch. Eom., ix. PI. 43 (see
Guide to 1st Vase Eoom, 1879, p. 21, No. 201). This robe
represents the pejplos offered to Demeter at the Eleusinian
Festival. On the left of the seated Deities (Nos. 23-26)
on slab iv. stand four male figures (19-22) who, as has
already been pointed out, correspond to the group Nos. 42-
45 on slab vi., both in attire and action. The two most
youthful of these figures (Nos. 20 and 21) are leaning on
their staffs in an easy attitude as if engaged in conversation
with their companions Nos. 19 and 22. On the next
slab to the left, iii., is another similar male figure (No. 18),
who appears to belong to the same group. Michaelis
supposes that the group of five figures (Nos. 18-22) and
the opposite group (Nos. 42-45) of four figures represent
the nine Archons. That they are functionaries of high
rank can hardly be doubted, when we consider their
privileged place between the head of the procession on
each side and the seated divinities. Next to the figure
No. 18 on slab iii. is a male figure (No. 17), towards
key to the whole composition of the frieze. The surface
of the peplos in this group is left quite plain, but some
indication of its embroidered design may have been given
by colour. On two of the Panathenaic vases found at
Teucheira in the Cyrenaica (Guide to 2nd Vase Eoom,
1878, Pt. i. p. 13) the garment of Athene is richly
embroidered with figures and flowers, and it is probable,
that the type of the goddess represented on these vases is
adapted from her archaic statue in the temple of Athene
Polias, where the peplos was offered. On a statue of
Athene in the Dresden Collection (Clarac, PL 459, No.
855), the embroidery of the peplos is indicated by groups
like metopes relieved on a vertical strip of the jpeplos,
which goes down the centre of the figure. With these
indications of the ornaments of the peplos in art may be
compared the embroidered robe worn by Demeter on the
vase engraved Monum. d. Inst. Arch. Eom., ix. PI. 43 (see
Guide to 1st Vase Eoom, 1879, p. 21, No. 201). This robe
represents the pejplos offered to Demeter at the Eleusinian
Festival. On the left of the seated Deities (Nos. 23-26)
on slab iv. stand four male figures (19-22) who, as has
already been pointed out, correspond to the group Nos. 42-
45 on slab vi., both in attire and action. The two most
youthful of these figures (Nos. 20 and 21) are leaning on
their staffs in an easy attitude as if engaged in conversation
with their companions Nos. 19 and 22. On the next
slab to the left, iii., is another similar male figure (No. 18),
who appears to belong to the same group. Michaelis
supposes that the group of five figures (Nos. 18-22) and
the opposite group (Nos. 42-45) of four figures represent
the nine Archons. That they are functionaries of high
rank can hardly be doubted, when we consider their
privileged place between the head of the procession on
each side and the seated divinities. Next to the figure
No. 18 on slab iii. is a male figure (No. 17), towards