DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15096#0040
23
prodigy wrought by Minerva/9) The female may be Pandrosos,
whose temple (as well as that of Erectheus) was beneath the eye
of the spectator as he contemplated these figures, being within a
few yards of this angle of the Parthenon. As local deities, to whom
the gratitude and affections of the country were due, their title to
this position would seem to be sufficiently established. For the
same reasons, the reclining figure in the angle, which was of all
those in this pediment nearest the Temple of Theseus, might in all
probability represent that hero. They behold with delight the vic-
tory achieved by their adored and peculiar deity, already admitted
to the assembly of the gods. Between these last, the drawings
of Carrey, as well as of Pars/1) exhibit a space which must have
been occupied by a figure, probably a female, as best contrasting
with the male figures on either side. On the right/2) Neptune
striking the earth with his trident, produces Amphitrite and her
car, accompanied, like that of Victory, by a personage seemingly
female, in correspondence with the irdp^poQ opposite, controuling
the horses.
The character of the statue beyond, as well as the two infants on
either side, leave no doubt that this group represents Latona(3) with
her children Apollo and Diana. Equally probable is the association
of Thalassa(4) with young Venus in her lap, who appear to be de-
signated by the next statues; a similar group is described in the
temple of Neptune at Corinth. Probably Thetis or one of the
8 See Apollod. b. 3. c. 14. 1 British Museum.
2 Neptune and Minerva divide the centre, as if the combat were still in suspense,
no object exactly occupying the apex of the Tympanum; and this very probably
differed from the eastern or front, and may have been designed to mark its subser-
viency.
s A statue of Latona and her children, by Praxiteles, was seen at Megara. Paus.
Att. c. xliv.
4 Paus. Corinth, c. i. describes, in the offering of Herodes Atticus, Thalassa
with Venus in her lap.
Col. Leake has suggested, see Topography of Athens, p. 252, Maia with the young
Mercury in her lap.
prodigy wrought by Minerva/9) The female may be Pandrosos,
whose temple (as well as that of Erectheus) was beneath the eye
of the spectator as he contemplated these figures, being within a
few yards of this angle of the Parthenon. As local deities, to whom
the gratitude and affections of the country were due, their title to
this position would seem to be sufficiently established. For the
same reasons, the reclining figure in the angle, which was of all
those in this pediment nearest the Temple of Theseus, might in all
probability represent that hero. They behold with delight the vic-
tory achieved by their adored and peculiar deity, already admitted
to the assembly of the gods. Between these last, the drawings
of Carrey, as well as of Pars/1) exhibit a space which must have
been occupied by a figure, probably a female, as best contrasting
with the male figures on either side. On the right/2) Neptune
striking the earth with his trident, produces Amphitrite and her
car, accompanied, like that of Victory, by a personage seemingly
female, in correspondence with the irdp^poQ opposite, controuling
the horses.
The character of the statue beyond, as well as the two infants on
either side, leave no doubt that this group represents Latona(3) with
her children Apollo and Diana. Equally probable is the association
of Thalassa(4) with young Venus in her lap, who appear to be de-
signated by the next statues; a similar group is described in the
temple of Neptune at Corinth. Probably Thetis or one of the
8 See Apollod. b. 3. c. 14. 1 British Museum.
2 Neptune and Minerva divide the centre, as if the combat were still in suspense,
no object exactly occupying the apex of the Tympanum; and this very probably
differed from the eastern or front, and may have been designed to mark its subser-
viency.
s A statue of Latona and her children, by Praxiteles, was seen at Megara. Paus.
Att. c. xliv.
4 Paus. Corinth, c. i. describes, in the offering of Herodes Atticus, Thalassa
with Venus in her lap.
Col. Leake has suggested, see Topography of Athens, p. 252, Maia with the young
Mercury in her lap.