DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.796#0182
148
THE ACROPOLIS OF ATHENS
no direct information in regard to the treatment of this
subject. But the probability is great that the restoration
of this group is to be made in harmony with a relief on
a well-head, now at Madrid, which represents Zeus seated
on a throne, grasping the thunderbolt in his right hand
and looking towards Athena, who stands armed before him
and is about to be crowned by a Victory holding a wreath
in her hand. Behind the throne of Zeus is Hephaestus,
who has cleft the skull of Zeus with his axe, and starts
back in astonishment. On the right of the composition
are the three Fates. While no direct connection with this
relief can be inferred from the figures of the Parthenon
pediment still extant, some such composition as this seems
more in harmony with the dignity of Athena as goddess
Fig. 65.—Birth of Athena. On Well-head at Madrid.
of the temple than the scheme which occurs on vases and
Etruscan mirrors, in which Athena is portrayed as a tiny
figure or doll hovering over the head of Zeus. This conclusion
is confirmed by the recent examination of the wall and
floor of the gable by Bruno Sauer (92), who, from the appear-
ance of the surface of the marble, from dowel-holes and
sockets for receiving or supporting pieces of statuary, and
from the remains of clamps and bars and various traces
of supports, has shown that the centre of the eastern gable
was occupied by two large figures of equal importance.
Wide differences of opinion prevail with regard to the
interpretation of the extant pedimental figures, to discuss
which is beyond our province. The figures in the angles
are the only ones which appear to be well ascertained. On
the left the sun-god Helios rises from the ocean driving
his car, and on the right the moon-goddess Selene guiding
THE ACROPOLIS OF ATHENS
no direct information in regard to the treatment of this
subject. But the probability is great that the restoration
of this group is to be made in harmony with a relief on
a well-head, now at Madrid, which represents Zeus seated
on a throne, grasping the thunderbolt in his right hand
and looking towards Athena, who stands armed before him
and is about to be crowned by a Victory holding a wreath
in her hand. Behind the throne of Zeus is Hephaestus,
who has cleft the skull of Zeus with his axe, and starts
back in astonishment. On the right of the composition
are the three Fates. While no direct connection with this
relief can be inferred from the figures of the Parthenon
pediment still extant, some such composition as this seems
more in harmony with the dignity of Athena as goddess
Fig. 65.—Birth of Athena. On Well-head at Madrid.
of the temple than the scheme which occurs on vases and
Etruscan mirrors, in which Athena is portrayed as a tiny
figure or doll hovering over the head of Zeus. This conclusion
is confirmed by the recent examination of the wall and
floor of the gable by Bruno Sauer (92), who, from the appear-
ance of the surface of the marble, from dowel-holes and
sockets for receiving or supporting pieces of statuary, and
from the remains of clamps and bars and various traces
of supports, has shown that the centre of the eastern gable
was occupied by two large figures of equal importance.
Wide differences of opinion prevail with regard to the
interpretation of the extant pedimental figures, to discuss
which is beyond our province. The figures in the angles
are the only ones which appear to be well ascertained. On
the left the sun-god Helios rises from the ocean driving
his car, and on the right the moon-goddess Selene guiding