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Combe, Taylor [Editor]
A description of the collection of ancient Marbles in the British Museum: with engravings (Band 9) — London, 1842

DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15099#0073
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53

PLATE XI.
SIGEAN BAS RELIEF.

[Height 2 f. Length 5 f. 9 in. Width 2 f. Old No. 99. New No. 324.]

The monument represented in this plate was first made known
to modern times by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, who in the
account of her visit to Sigeum in the Troad, in June 1718, says,
" On each side the door of this little church lie two large stones,
about ten feet long each, five in breadth, and three in thickness.
That on the right is a very fine white marble, the side of it beau-
tifully carved in bas-relief; it represents a woman, who seems to
be designed for some deity, sitting on a chair with a footstool,
and before her another woman weeping, and presenting to her a
young child that she has in her arms, followed by a procession of
women with children in the same manner. This is certainly part
of a very ancient tomb; but I dare not pretend to give the true
explanation of it." i On the other side of the door of the church
was the celebrated Sigean Inscription, which Lady Mary lamented
that she was unable to remove from a want of machines for
the purpose, and because her boat was not large enough to
hold it. Her ladyship's description and measurements are not
very accurate, but there cannot be any doubt of the identity of
the two objects, both of which are now in the British Museum,
and were seen, as she describes them, by Dr. Chandler in 17^4,
and at a later period by the Comte de Choiseul Goullier. The
building in which they were placed as seats, the Doctor describes
as " a mean church on the brow, toward Mount Ida," which
" occupies the site of the Atheneum or temple of Minerva ;
1 Lady M. W. Montagu's Letters during Mr. Wortley's Embassy. Works, v. Hi. p. 30.
 
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