DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4327#0043
34
PRIENE.
In the left hand lower corner of the Plate is a nude male
figure, kneeling on his right knee. He appears to have been
thrown down by an adversary standing over him on higher
ground, who has drapery wound round his body and passing
over his left shoulder. As the arms of both figures and the
legs of the one on a higher level are wanting, it is very
difficult to make out the action of the group, but, as part of
a lion appears on the right of the victorious, figure, it may
be inferred that the group represents Dionysos striking
down a Giant. Height of group 2 ft. If in.
Above, in the right-hand corner, is a draped female
figure moving rapidly to the right; the violence of her
action is shown by the agitated folds of her drapery, which
consists of a talaric chiton, over which is a mantle cast over
both arms, the ends flying behind her. Her head, left
hand, and forearm nearly to the elbow, and rig] it arm from
the elbow, are wanting. The feet, which wear sandals,
stand on a projecting ledge. Height 1 ft. 11 in.
In the left-hand upper corner is the torso of a draped
female figure also moving rapidly to the right, and clad
in a talaric chiton and mantle similarly composed. Her
head, feet, right arm, and left arm from above the elbow
are wanting. Height 1 ft. 8 in.
Many more fragments of this frieze were collected at
Priene, and are now in the British Museum. In examining
these fragments the following peculiarities may be noted.
They are for the most part hammer-dressed at the back
with a thickness ranging from 2\ to 6 inches. The figures
generally stand on rocky ground or on a projecting ledge,
below Avhich the marble is wrought as a plain margin
varying in width from 9 to 5 inches. The joints are
roughly finished, and, so far as can be inferred from the
evidence of these details, the frieze does not seem suitable
to have formed part of the principal external order of the
temple.
Plate XX.
Two Iconic Heads.
Colossal female head, broken off from a statue at the
base of the neck. The lower part of the nose, both eyes,
and the left temple, have been much injured, and the left
upper lip has suffered slightly. Above the forehead is a
triple row of formal curls. The remainder of the hair is
concealed under a close-fitting cap, on which, when first
discovered, were traces of ornaments painted in brown.
The curls on the right side of the head have been painted
red; on the other side their surface has been blackened
by the action of fire. The resemblance of this head to the
one found on the site of the Mausoleum (Newton, History
of Discoveries, ii. part I. p. 10d<, plate 2) is so marked as
to make it certain that they are both the work of the same
school, if not of the same artist. The execution of the
Priene head is very masterly, all but the curls, which are
very roughly indicated, while those of the Mausoleum head
are carefully wrought in spirals. Height 1 ft. 4f in.
Iconic male head, which has been fitted on to a statue
at the base of the neck. Only the left side of the face,
including part of the right nostril and nearly all the right
side of the mouth, are preserved. The right side and the
back of the head behind the ear have been split off. The
portrait represents a middle-aged man, closely shaven, and
bald over the forehead; his hair is short and slightly
waved; the lips arc thin and compressed with an expres-
sion of strong will, the chin broad with a depression in the
middle, the nose broad, Avidening towards the lip, which
is broken away; the eye is deep set, the circle of the iris
has been marked by red colour, of which there are still
traces. The brow has been contracted. The features are
finely modelled, and the work belongs to a good period.
The portrait may represent one of the Diadochi, and bears
some resemblance to one of the kings of Bithynia as repre-
sented on coins, but there is no trace of a diadem. The
surface of the marble is discoloured, as if by fire. When
found, this head was in three fragments. Height 1 ft. 3^- in.
Plate XXL
Pedestal.
Front and side views of a square pedestal found in the
temenos. On the front and back is sculptured in relief a
floral ornament (anthemion) rising from a stem, out of
which spring acanthus leaves. On cither side stands a
gryphon, his right paw raised and resting on the volute
above the acanthus leaves. On cither return face of the
pedestal is a floral ornament issuing from a stem, out of
which spring on cither side acanthus leaves and spiral
tendrils, terminating in half anthemia. This pattern is
surmounted by a bold projecting moulding, corresponding
to the abacus of a pilaster, below which is an ornament
corresponding to the pulvinar and volute of an Ionic
pilaster.1 On the top of the pedestal are two deep sinkings,
one of which is oblong, the other in shape something like
a racket. These probably served as the support of some
votive offering in metal. The sides of these sinkings are
roughly hewn away, probably to enable some spoiler to
detach the object which stood on the pedestal.2
1 M. Rayet, Milet et le Golfe Latmique, p. 24, describes another similar
pedestal which he found in the ruins at Priene, between the Propylajum
and the Pronaos (see his Plate 17, figs. 1, 2). The height of the example in
the Museum is 3ft. Gin. by 4ft. OJin. each way.
2 It appeal's to mo probable that it was originally designed as an altar,
the upper part being in bronze, or some other metal.—J. F.
Architecture by J. F.
Sculpture by C. T. N.
PRIENE.
In the left hand lower corner of the Plate is a nude male
figure, kneeling on his right knee. He appears to have been
thrown down by an adversary standing over him on higher
ground, who has drapery wound round his body and passing
over his left shoulder. As the arms of both figures and the
legs of the one on a higher level are wanting, it is very
difficult to make out the action of the group, but, as part of
a lion appears on the right of the victorious, figure, it may
be inferred that the group represents Dionysos striking
down a Giant. Height of group 2 ft. If in.
Above, in the right-hand corner, is a draped female
figure moving rapidly to the right; the violence of her
action is shown by the agitated folds of her drapery, which
consists of a talaric chiton, over which is a mantle cast over
both arms, the ends flying behind her. Her head, left
hand, and forearm nearly to the elbow, and rig] it arm from
the elbow, are wanting. The feet, which wear sandals,
stand on a projecting ledge. Height 1 ft. 11 in.
In the left-hand upper corner is the torso of a draped
female figure also moving rapidly to the right, and clad
in a talaric chiton and mantle similarly composed. Her
head, feet, right arm, and left arm from above the elbow
are wanting. Height 1 ft. 8 in.
Many more fragments of this frieze were collected at
Priene, and are now in the British Museum. In examining
these fragments the following peculiarities may be noted.
They are for the most part hammer-dressed at the back
with a thickness ranging from 2\ to 6 inches. The figures
generally stand on rocky ground or on a projecting ledge,
below Avhich the marble is wrought as a plain margin
varying in width from 9 to 5 inches. The joints are
roughly finished, and, so far as can be inferred from the
evidence of these details, the frieze does not seem suitable
to have formed part of the principal external order of the
temple.
Plate XX.
Two Iconic Heads.
Colossal female head, broken off from a statue at the
base of the neck. The lower part of the nose, both eyes,
and the left temple, have been much injured, and the left
upper lip has suffered slightly. Above the forehead is a
triple row of formal curls. The remainder of the hair is
concealed under a close-fitting cap, on which, when first
discovered, were traces of ornaments painted in brown.
The curls on the right side of the head have been painted
red; on the other side their surface has been blackened
by the action of fire. The resemblance of this head to the
one found on the site of the Mausoleum (Newton, History
of Discoveries, ii. part I. p. 10d<, plate 2) is so marked as
to make it certain that they are both the work of the same
school, if not of the same artist. The execution of the
Priene head is very masterly, all but the curls, which are
very roughly indicated, while those of the Mausoleum head
are carefully wrought in spirals. Height 1 ft. 4f in.
Iconic male head, which has been fitted on to a statue
at the base of the neck. Only the left side of the face,
including part of the right nostril and nearly all the right
side of the mouth, are preserved. The right side and the
back of the head behind the ear have been split off. The
portrait represents a middle-aged man, closely shaven, and
bald over the forehead; his hair is short and slightly
waved; the lips arc thin and compressed with an expres-
sion of strong will, the chin broad with a depression in the
middle, the nose broad, Avidening towards the lip, which
is broken away; the eye is deep set, the circle of the iris
has been marked by red colour, of which there are still
traces. The brow has been contracted. The features are
finely modelled, and the work belongs to a good period.
The portrait may represent one of the Diadochi, and bears
some resemblance to one of the kings of Bithynia as repre-
sented on coins, but there is no trace of a diadem. The
surface of the marble is discoloured, as if by fire. When
found, this head was in three fragments. Height 1 ft. 3^- in.
Plate XXL
Pedestal.
Front and side views of a square pedestal found in the
temenos. On the front and back is sculptured in relief a
floral ornament (anthemion) rising from a stem, out of
which spring acanthus leaves. On cither side stands a
gryphon, his right paw raised and resting on the volute
above the acanthus leaves. On cither return face of the
pedestal is a floral ornament issuing from a stem, out of
which spring on cither side acanthus leaves and spiral
tendrils, terminating in half anthemia. This pattern is
surmounted by a bold projecting moulding, corresponding
to the abacus of a pilaster, below which is an ornament
corresponding to the pulvinar and volute of an Ionic
pilaster.1 On the top of the pedestal are two deep sinkings,
one of which is oblong, the other in shape something like
a racket. These probably served as the support of some
votive offering in metal. The sides of these sinkings are
roughly hewn away, probably to enable some spoiler to
detach the object which stood on the pedestal.2
1 M. Rayet, Milet et le Golfe Latmique, p. 24, describes another similar
pedestal which he found in the ruins at Priene, between the Propylajum
and the Pronaos (see his Plate 17, figs. 1, 2). The height of the example in
the Museum is 3ft. Gin. by 4ft. OJin. each way.
2 It appeal's to mo probable that it was originally designed as an altar,
the upper part being in bronze, or some other metal.—J. F.
Architecture by J. F.
Sculpture by C. T. N.