DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.796#0079
54 THE ACROPOLIS OF ATHENS
pediments of temples. Besides these there are groups of
animals and several archaic figures, some of which are
supposed to have been representations of priestesses and
others of divinities. Let us first notice the groups that seem
to have decorated the gables of temples. All of them show
a remarkable similarity in their composition, their subjects,
their style and technique, while at the same time they give
evidence of a continuous progress from the earlier to the
later archaic style. Traces of the original color or pigment
which covered the surface of the stone still appear. With
the help of these traces of color, it is possible to imagine
what the appearance of these sculptures with their motley-
colored tints must have been. The effect must have resembled
Fig. 14.—Heracles attacking the Hydra.
more that of painted and glazed tiles or of enamelled brick or
of colored terra cotta than that of sculpture in stone or marble.
These pediment groups apparently portray chiefly the deeds of
Heracles. Whether from this it is to be inferred that there
was once a temple or shrine of Heracles on the Acropolis
to which these early sculptures belonged, or whether we are
to suppose that these fragments were brought up from the
lower city, to be used as material for extending the area
of the Acropolis, is a question that has not been definitely
determined. Gardner {Greek Sculpt, p. 159) remarks that the
completeness of most of the groups tells against the latter
alternative ; on the other hand, we find no evidence elsewhere
for the existence of a Heracles temple on the Acropolis.
What is probably the earliest of these groups represents
Heracles attacking with his club the Lernaean Hydra.
This group has more the character of relief than of sculpture
pediments of temples. Besides these there are groups of
animals and several archaic figures, some of which are
supposed to have been representations of priestesses and
others of divinities. Let us first notice the groups that seem
to have decorated the gables of temples. All of them show
a remarkable similarity in their composition, their subjects,
their style and technique, while at the same time they give
evidence of a continuous progress from the earlier to the
later archaic style. Traces of the original color or pigment
which covered the surface of the stone still appear. With
the help of these traces of color, it is possible to imagine
what the appearance of these sculptures with their motley-
colored tints must have been. The effect must have resembled
Fig. 14.—Heracles attacking the Hydra.
more that of painted and glazed tiles or of enamelled brick or
of colored terra cotta than that of sculpture in stone or marble.
These pediment groups apparently portray chiefly the deeds of
Heracles. Whether from this it is to be inferred that there
was once a temple or shrine of Heracles on the Acropolis
to which these early sculptures belonged, or whether we are
to suppose that these fragments were brought up from the
lower city, to be used as material for extending the area
of the Acropolis, is a question that has not been definitely
determined. Gardner {Greek Sculpt, p. 159) remarks that the
completeness of most of the groups tells against the latter
alternative ; on the other hand, we find no evidence elsewhere
for the existence of a Heracles temple on the Acropolis.
What is probably the earliest of these groups represents
Heracles attacking with his club the Lernaean Hydra.
This group has more the character of relief than of sculpture