Combe, Taylor [Editor]: A description of the collection of ancient Marbles in the British Museum: with engravings (Band 6) (London, 1830)

vi

Colotes : nor can this be questioned when the vastness
and rapidity of the works are considered, for, in the
space of six, or at most seven years, 528 figures of
various descriptions were completed, exclusive of the
great toreutic statue of ivory and gold, comprising
among the ornaments with which it was enriched
a considerable portion of subordinate sculpture.

Plutarch is sensible of the necessity of explanation
on this point when he quotes the opinion of Zeuxis,^
that time is one of the elements which contributes to
the perfection of works—those of the Parthenon
however, far from having suffered by the short time
employed in them, seem, from their excellence, to
have secured to themselves the universal admiration of
succeeding ages.

Of the 44 statues, the number of which the frontis-
pieces were probably composed, 13 fragments are
now deposited in the British Museum, and 2 occupy
their original position in the building.

Of the whole number of the Metopes (92) 15 are

4 Plut. in Peric. s. 13.