DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15100#0119
73
PLATE XXXII.
PELOPS AND HIPPODAMIA.
" A fragment representing the heads of Paris and Helen, the
former in alto relievo. The head of Paris is covered with a Phry-
gian helmet, which is fastened under the chin, and the head of
Helen is veiled. The piece of sculpture to which this fragment
belonged probably represented Paris carrying off Helen in a car.
The head of Paris has suffered very considerably from corrosion,
but so much beauty and boldness of execution is still retained, as
to make us at once admire the magnificence of the original compo-
sition and regret that so small a portion of it has been preserved.
This fragment was fished up from the bottom of the sea, on the
coast of Sicily, near Girgenti, the ancient Agrigentum." 1
From the general resemblance of costume and character, we
think that these heads may have belonged to two figures in a
chariot, like those on a Terra cotta in the Museum, and from the
expression of eagerness in the countenances and movements that
both these monuments formed part of the representation of a
chariot race. The Terra cotta has been described by Winckel-
mann,2 Mr. Combe,3 and Bottiger* as Paris carrying off Helen,
but, as it would seem, on very slight grounds, and it has been
thought with much greater probability that this group, from its
resemblance to the figures of Pelops and Hippodamia on a vase5
1 Combe, MS. notes. 2 Opere, v. p. 155. tav. 129.
3 Museum Terra cottas, pi. xix. no. 34. 4 Kleine Scliriften, ii. p. 191.
5 Inghirami, Monum. Etrusc. v. tav. 15. Compare the figures of Pelops and
PLATE XXXII.
PELOPS AND HIPPODAMIA.
" A fragment representing the heads of Paris and Helen, the
former in alto relievo. The head of Paris is covered with a Phry-
gian helmet, which is fastened under the chin, and the head of
Helen is veiled. The piece of sculpture to which this fragment
belonged probably represented Paris carrying off Helen in a car.
The head of Paris has suffered very considerably from corrosion,
but so much beauty and boldness of execution is still retained, as
to make us at once admire the magnificence of the original compo-
sition and regret that so small a portion of it has been preserved.
This fragment was fished up from the bottom of the sea, on the
coast of Sicily, near Girgenti, the ancient Agrigentum." 1
From the general resemblance of costume and character, we
think that these heads may have belonged to two figures in a
chariot, like those on a Terra cotta in the Museum, and from the
expression of eagerness in the countenances and movements that
both these monuments formed part of the representation of a
chariot race. The Terra cotta has been described by Winckel-
mann,2 Mr. Combe,3 and Bottiger* as Paris carrying off Helen,
but, as it would seem, on very slight grounds, and it has been
thought with much greater probability that this group, from its
resemblance to the figures of Pelops and Hippodamia on a vase5
1 Combe, MS. notes. 2 Opere, v. p. 155. tav. 129.
3 Museum Terra cottas, pi. xix. no. 34. 4 Kleine Scliriften, ii. p. 191.
5 Inghirami, Monum. Etrusc. v. tav. 15. Compare the figures of Pelops and