DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.796#0185
THE AGE OF PERICLES 151
represents Olympus, and that all the figures contained within
this space are definite mythological personages who were
present at the birth, or, as appears to us more probable, we
may assume that all the divinities present were comprised
in the central part of the pediment, and that the figures
towards the angles belong to the world outside of Olympus,
to whom the news is brought. These figures may be imper-
sonations of nature. Thus, according to Brunn and Waldstein
the magnificent reclining male figure (Z>), popularly known
as " Theseus," who faces the rising sun, represents Mount
Olympus, which is here to be thought of as the home of
the gods.
Fig. 68.—"The Fates.
In harmony with the same theory the two seated figures
which come next are interpreted as the Horae who sat
at the gates of Olympus as " doorkeepers to open and to
close the solid cloud." Whether we call the next figure,
which is apparently hastening towards the Horae, Iris or
Hebe or Eileithyia, the goddess who presides at birth, we see
in it a representation of some one who is hastening from
Olympus to the outside world with a message of the divine
birth. In the corresponding space at the other angle the
three beautiful figures are by some supposed to be the Fates
(unless we assign to these a place on the left side of the
pediment, closer to the centre of the composition as is the
case in the Madrid relief) by others Hestia and the Sea
(Thalassa) reclining in the bosom of the Earth (Gaia), or
represents Olympus, and that all the figures contained within
this space are definite mythological personages who were
present at the birth, or, as appears to us more probable, we
may assume that all the divinities present were comprised
in the central part of the pediment, and that the figures
towards the angles belong to the world outside of Olympus,
to whom the news is brought. These figures may be imper-
sonations of nature. Thus, according to Brunn and Waldstein
the magnificent reclining male figure (Z>), popularly known
as " Theseus," who faces the rising sun, represents Mount
Olympus, which is here to be thought of as the home of
the gods.
Fig. 68.—"The Fates.
In harmony with the same theory the two seated figures
which come next are interpreted as the Horae who sat
at the gates of Olympus as " doorkeepers to open and to
close the solid cloud." Whether we call the next figure,
which is apparently hastening towards the Horae, Iris or
Hebe or Eileithyia, the goddess who presides at birth, we see
in it a representation of some one who is hastening from
Olympus to the outside world with a message of the divine
birth. In the corresponding space at the other angle the
three beautiful figures are by some supposed to be the Fates
(unless we assign to these a place on the left side of the
pediment, closer to the centre of the composition as is the
case in the Madrid relief) by others Hestia and the Sea
(Thalassa) reclining in the bosom of the Earth (Gaia), or