DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42779#0125
80 THE EARLIEST HELLENIC STONE STATUES
shape. But in view of the certain knowledge we have that
many if not most of the other limestone plaques are votive it
might be equally well assumed that these triangular slabs are
also votive, being copies of the standing sculptures of the
temple. Against this it may be argued that none of the lion-
reliefs have inscriptions. In any case, the technique of this
lion-group is identical with that of the horse reliefs. All alike
are carved at the same period and by the same kind of artists.
Almost exactly similar in technique to these Spartan reliefs
and small sculptures are certain small figures in the round
that were found at Naukratis and Kameiros. All are in the
British Museum. No. B. 457 is the upper half of a female
figure made of fine yellowish limestone. Its present height
is 0*145 mm. It is described in the catalogue1 as ‘unfinished’,
the eyes, ears, diadem, and parts of the head being incom-
plete in detail. It is of course possible that it is in fact
complete and that it was originally heavily coloured with
paste. The catalogue refers to the fact that ‘chisel marks
remain everywhere’, but the marks are really those of a
knife-blade. This can be seen with particular clearness on
the lotus flower which the woman holds in her right hand.
No chisel could possibly have been used for such cuts.
Similar marks are also visible on the breasts.
No. B. 453, of white limestone, also unfinished, shows the
same cuts, and on B. 455 of dark grey limestone, they can be
clearly seen. Both are female figures and all three are dated
to the second half of the sixth century.
Nos. B. 338 and 339 from Kameiros, both male, show
similar knife-markings.
Other Sculptures.
There remain to be considered those figures in hard
limestone which are our chief record of large-scale sculpture
of the close of the seventh century. All alike seem ultimately
to be derived from the Cretan style seen in the Prinias
1 Brit. Mus. Cat. of Sculpture.
shape. But in view of the certain knowledge we have that
many if not most of the other limestone plaques are votive it
might be equally well assumed that these triangular slabs are
also votive, being copies of the standing sculptures of the
temple. Against this it may be argued that none of the lion-
reliefs have inscriptions. In any case, the technique of this
lion-group is identical with that of the horse reliefs. All alike
are carved at the same period and by the same kind of artists.
Almost exactly similar in technique to these Spartan reliefs
and small sculptures are certain small figures in the round
that were found at Naukratis and Kameiros. All are in the
British Museum. No. B. 457 is the upper half of a female
figure made of fine yellowish limestone. Its present height
is 0*145 mm. It is described in the catalogue1 as ‘unfinished’,
the eyes, ears, diadem, and parts of the head being incom-
plete in detail. It is of course possible that it is in fact
complete and that it was originally heavily coloured with
paste. The catalogue refers to the fact that ‘chisel marks
remain everywhere’, but the marks are really those of a
knife-blade. This can be seen with particular clearness on
the lotus flower which the woman holds in her right hand.
No chisel could possibly have been used for such cuts.
Similar marks are also visible on the breasts.
No. B. 453, of white limestone, also unfinished, shows the
same cuts, and on B. 455 of dark grey limestone, they can be
clearly seen. Both are female figures and all three are dated
to the second half of the sixth century.
Nos. B. 338 and 339 from Kameiros, both male, show
similar knife-markings.
Other Sculptures.
There remain to be considered those figures in hard
limestone which are our chief record of large-scale sculpture
of the close of the seventh century. All alike seem ultimately
to be derived from the Cretan style seen in the Prinias
1 Brit. Mus. Cat. of Sculpture.