Cook, Arthur B.: Zeus: a study in ancient religion (Band 3,1): Zeus god of the dark sky (earthquake, clouds, wind, dew, rain, meteorits): Text and notes (Cambridge, 1940)

696

The birth of Athena in art

(fig. 511)1, sometimes in an architectural surround which to some
extent confirms our attribution of the original to the Parthenon
(figs. 512, 513)2.

The central group thus determined is flanked by the axe-bearei
starting to escape behind the throne of Zeus and a male deity
recoiling in astonishment from Athena. If the axe-bearer was
Hephaistos or Prometheus, some other name must be found for this
god. Following Furtwangler3,1 have identified him with Poseidon
and restored him in an attitude somewhat resembling that of
Myron's Marsyas5. I do so with some confidence, partly because

1 A cornelian of Graeco-Roman date, from the Hertz collection (C. W. King AntiaU
Gems and Rings London 1872 ii. 52 pi. 19 B, 9 ( = my fig. 511), Furtwangler Ant. Ge»""en
' P'> 43- 45. »• 207).

2 E. Gerhard ijber die Minervenidole Athens Berlin 1844 p. 24 pi. 4, 2 ( = my fig- 51
' Athena Promachos' from an unpublished gem, Mtiller—Wieseler Denkm. d. alt. Hu
ii- r53f- P'- 20, 2i6c.

A. F. Gori Museum Florentinum Gemmae antiquae ex thesauro Mediceo et pnva
torum dactyliothecis Florentiae exhibitae tab. cc Florentiae 1732 ii. 124 pi. 77 n0' "'
Reinach Pierres Gravies p. 66, no. 77, 2 pi. 66 ( = my fig. 51,3), from a red jasper of tie
'Mns. Gherard.'

These two gems, if genuine (and there is no obvious reason to doubt them), appeal
be of Roman imperial date.

3 A. Furtwangler Intermezzi Leipzig—Berlin 1896 p. 28 f.

4 Note that Poseidon occupied a similar position to the right of the central group _
several of the vase-paintings already considered (supra figs. 485, 49:, 493 (?))> though in
others he was placed on the left (supra figs. 492 (?), 497). c

J. N. Svoronos in his restoration (Journ. Intern. d'Arch. Num. 1912 xiv.
pi. 16') completes this figure as Ares carrying a trophy—a numismatic type for whic
would have done better to substitute Ares the shield-bearer (supra fig. 477

and pi- llU'

Cp. Reinach Rip. Vases i. 116, 3, ii. 20, 1). . fi

5 Furtwangler Masterpieces of Gk. Sculpt, p. 465. His observation ii. n. 3 'Only
right arm was lifted up, not both as is generally stated. The difference in the marking^
the muscles on back and breast between the two sides shows this indubitably' is travel
by K. Schwerzek Erlduterimgen zu dem Versuch einer Rekonslruktion dcs ost
Parthenongiebels Wien 1904 p. 25 'beide Achseln zeigen, dass die Arme erhoben w£ure'^'je
der rechte Arm viel hoher kommt als der linke, obgleich beide fast gleichmassig 1
Hohe streben.' The question is one for anatomists to decide.

Among the extant fragments attributed to the pediments by A. H. Smith The Scut} ^
of the Parthenon London 1910 p. 22 ff. I have found two (figs. 514, 515) which may ^
be referred to this Pheidiac Poseidon. One (frag. 34 pi. 13) is part of a colossal right ^
(Smith inadvertently says 'left'), held up, thrown back, and spread open. The 0 ^
(frag. 39 pi. 14 a) is part of a colossal right foot, of which Smith justly remarks ■
hinder part of the foot seems to have been slightly raised from the ground-
fragments are of the right size to form the extremities of that splendid body. wl1 ,^(oS
commonly call Torso H. They help to assure me that H does not spell Hep ^.^g
And here I part company with my friend Mr Smith, who in the Brit. Mus. Cat- j^nds
i. in attributed the torso to Hephaistos or Prometheus, adding: 'Perhaps both ■
held an axe above the head, as if about to strike.' That was a plausible su£Sestl.°"^]ie
surely mistaken; for not one of our vase-types showed Hephaistos in act to stn (
was always consistently running away with lowered axe. Eighteen years later t
Sculptures of the Parthenon p. 22 Mr Smith modified his opinion: 'It is protia