DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15099#0075
55
a broad open vessel, and, suspended in her right, a square temple-
formed cista with a pointed roof, apparently containing offerings
to propitiate the divinity. This female is clothed in a long chiton,
with entire sleeves reaching to the wrists; over it she wears a
pallium, which, hanging loose, descends almost to the ancles.
All these figures are designed with great elegance and simplicity,
but the workmanship is not highly or elaborately finished. The
presiding goddess is seated upon a chair, clothed in a long tunic,
with sleeves reaching to the elbow; over it she wears a peplus of
most ample dimensions, which, partially covering the arms, is
wrapped in broad large folds over the lower part of the person ;
the folds from behind have been drawn up over the head, cover-
ing it in the form of a veil, and a portion is drawn forward
by the left hand. This figure has been called Minerva both by
Dr. Chandler and the Comte de Choiseul Gouffier, both probably
having been influenced by the circumstances of the monument
having been found upon the site of the ancient temple of that
goddess. We are more disposed to consider that Juno JLu-
cina is the personage intended ; we are not yet quite satisfied that
Minerva, even in her most pacific capacity, is ever represented
without some of that armour, accoutred with which she sprang
from the head of her father ; the forms too are peculiarly matronly,
much more so than we recollect ever to have seen upon any well
executed figure of Minerva, but such as are quite characteristic of
Juno as a matron, and in her capacity of nurse, presiding over
the birth and rearing of infants; the costume is also well suited
to Juno, and the application of the hand to the veil, though not
unfrequent in female divinities of the earlier ages of art, was
perhaps very seldom adopted in latter times, except in statues
of Juno. Though Minerva may have occasionally usurped the
province of Hygeia, and taken upon herself the protection of medi-
cine and of surgery ; yet it is Juno who is peculiarly the protectress
of mothers and their infants, and it is therefore Juno whom we
a broad open vessel, and, suspended in her right, a square temple-
formed cista with a pointed roof, apparently containing offerings
to propitiate the divinity. This female is clothed in a long chiton,
with entire sleeves reaching to the wrists; over it she wears a
pallium, which, hanging loose, descends almost to the ancles.
All these figures are designed with great elegance and simplicity,
but the workmanship is not highly or elaborately finished. The
presiding goddess is seated upon a chair, clothed in a long tunic,
with sleeves reaching to the elbow; over it she wears a peplus of
most ample dimensions, which, partially covering the arms, is
wrapped in broad large folds over the lower part of the person ;
the folds from behind have been drawn up over the head, cover-
ing it in the form of a veil, and a portion is drawn forward
by the left hand. This figure has been called Minerva both by
Dr. Chandler and the Comte de Choiseul Gouffier, both probably
having been influenced by the circumstances of the monument
having been found upon the site of the ancient temple of that
goddess. We are more disposed to consider that Juno JLu-
cina is the personage intended ; we are not yet quite satisfied that
Minerva, even in her most pacific capacity, is ever represented
without some of that armour, accoutred with which she sprang
from the head of her father ; the forms too are peculiarly matronly,
much more so than we recollect ever to have seen upon any well
executed figure of Minerva, but such as are quite characteristic of
Juno as a matron, and in her capacity of nurse, presiding over
the birth and rearing of infants; the costume is also well suited
to Juno, and the application of the hand to the veil, though not
unfrequent in female divinities of the earlier ages of art, was
perhaps very seldom adopted in latter times, except in statues
of Juno. Though Minerva may have occasionally usurped the
province of Hygeia, and taken upon herself the protection of medi-
cine and of surgery ; yet it is Juno who is peculiarly the protectress
of mothers and their infants, and it is therefore Juno whom we