DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5294#0036
[ '28 ]
gods had been consulted, and in no instances were they resorted
to with more zeal, than at the commencement, or during the prose-
cution of a war. Alexander (1) the Great consulted the Pythian
oracle before he waged war against the Persians; and Pyrrhus (2)
did not venture to assist the people of Tarentum against the
Romans, until he had received an answer, favourable, as he ima-
gined, from the same oracle. The upper part of the warrior's
figure, as well as the legs of Apollo, which were originally defective
in this bas-relief, were restored by Mr. Nollekens. Dimensions
10-| inches, by 9-§- inches.
No. LIV.
A bas-relief, representing a lighted candelabrum, on each side of
which stands a priestess with a basket on her head, ready to per-
form a sacrifice. A small portion of the robe of each priestess is
held up by one hand, in the same manner as in two other bas-
reliefs, (3) already described. This bas-relief is engraved in the
Monumenti Antichi Inediti,{4) published by Winckelmann, who is
of opinion that the priestesses represent the two canephorce,{5)
who assisted at Athens, in the festival of Minerva. The sphinxes,
introduced in the lower part of the candelabrum, render this con-
jecture extremely probable. The sphinx was sacred to Minerva,
and was engraved by Phidias, (6) on the helmet of his statue of that
1 Plutarch, in Vit. Alex. torn. iv. p. 21. edit. Bryan.
* Ennii Fragm. p. 58. edit. Hesselii. Cic. deDivin. lib. ii. c. 56.
3 See Nos. XIX. and L.
* Tav. 182.
5 Tlxftivoi Svo T25 vous Tri? Ilo\txSo; o\y.s<nv z Tri'ppw, xceAZiri SI 'ASwonot <r<pcc,g xw/itpopoi);.
ocZrou ypoi/ov ph rivoc Siourccv 'Lyovtri isxpu, tyi S'em. ■n-upa.'ytvofjt.tvris S\ tyis loprTig, Spucnv h
i/vxri roiccSt. dva.S'e'ltrat <r<p\<rw hri rccg xstpaXoi,;, a, if rrig 'A&wxs lipinx, Sduiri (pipw, stz y\
SiSmua, qttoiov ti <Ji'tWn/ u$\HK, «T£ mi? tpipovircci; im?a,[jt.[j.ivoi,i<;.—Pausan. lib. i. c. 27.
6 Mectw yXv ovv iTtHuirou of rw tipxi/ei o-ipiyyoj ilxuv.—Pausan. lib. l. c. 24.
gods had been consulted, and in no instances were they resorted
to with more zeal, than at the commencement, or during the prose-
cution of a war. Alexander (1) the Great consulted the Pythian
oracle before he waged war against the Persians; and Pyrrhus (2)
did not venture to assist the people of Tarentum against the
Romans, until he had received an answer, favourable, as he ima-
gined, from the same oracle. The upper part of the warrior's
figure, as well as the legs of Apollo, which were originally defective
in this bas-relief, were restored by Mr. Nollekens. Dimensions
10-| inches, by 9-§- inches.
No. LIV.
A bas-relief, representing a lighted candelabrum, on each side of
which stands a priestess with a basket on her head, ready to per-
form a sacrifice. A small portion of the robe of each priestess is
held up by one hand, in the same manner as in two other bas-
reliefs, (3) already described. This bas-relief is engraved in the
Monumenti Antichi Inediti,{4) published by Winckelmann, who is
of opinion that the priestesses represent the two canephorce,{5)
who assisted at Athens, in the festival of Minerva. The sphinxes,
introduced in the lower part of the candelabrum, render this con-
jecture extremely probable. The sphinx was sacred to Minerva,
and was engraved by Phidias, (6) on the helmet of his statue of that
1 Plutarch, in Vit. Alex. torn. iv. p. 21. edit. Bryan.
* Ennii Fragm. p. 58. edit. Hesselii. Cic. deDivin. lib. ii. c. 56.
3 See Nos. XIX. and L.
* Tav. 182.
5 Tlxftivoi Svo T25 vous Tri? Ilo\txSo; o\y.s<nv z Tri'ppw, xceAZiri SI 'ASwonot <r<pcc,g xw/itpopoi);.
ocZrou ypoi/ov ph rivoc Siourccv 'Lyovtri isxpu, tyi S'em. ■n-upa.'ytvofjt.tvris S\ tyis loprTig, Spucnv h
i/vxri roiccSt. dva.S'e'ltrat <r<p\<rw hri rccg xstpaXoi,;, a, if rrig 'A&wxs lipinx, Sduiri (pipw, stz y\
SiSmua, qttoiov ti <Ji'tWn/ u$\HK, «T£ mi? tpipovircci; im?a,[jt.[j.ivoi,i<;.—Pausan. lib. i. c. 27.
6 Mectw yXv ovv iTtHuirou of rw tipxi/ei o-ipiyyoj ilxuv.—Pausan. lib. l. c. 24.