DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.800#0260
ALTAR OF MERCY. 241
Porch; whence aroa sometimes stands absolutely for that school of
philosophy itself.1 Hence Persius characterizes it by the epithet of
" sapiens;" at the same time alluding to the pictures in it of the Medes
in pantaloons :
" Quaeque docet sapiens braccatis illita Medis
Porticus." Sat. iii. 53.
The only other object which Pausanias mentions on the agora—
which, if he mean the same place, he now for the first time calls by that
name (c. 17, 1)—is an altae of Mercy or Compassion ("EXeo?). Arguing
from the traditions connected with it, this appears to have been a very
ancient altar. For Euripides represents the Heracleidse, sitting upon
it in suppliant guise, to have thus obtained the aid of the Athenians
against Eurystheus; and in like manner, Adrastus having laid upon
it the suppliant bough (ucertfpU) induced Theseus to make war upon
Creon, and compel him to bury the bodies of the Thebans;2 an act
regarded as one of the most signal displays of the philanthropy for
which the Athenians were famous, and celebrated accordingly. Statius
has some fine lines on the subject, which, as they also help to show the
nature of the altar and its surrounding objects, we here insert:
" Urbe ftrit media nulli concessa poteutum
Ara deum; mitis posuit dementia sedem
Et miseri fecere sacrani; sine supplice nunquam
Ilia novo; nulla damnavit vota repulsa.
Auditi quicunque rogant, noctesque diesque
Ire datum et solis numen placare querelis.
Parca superstitio: non turea flamma nee altus
Accipitur sanguis, lacrimis altaria sudant,
Mcestarumque super libamina serta comarum
Pendent, et vestes mutata sorte relicts;.
Mite nemus circa, cultuque insigne verendo
Vittatte lauras et supplicis arbor olivas.
Nulla autem effigies, nulli commissa metallo
Forma dea;; mentes habitave et pectora gaudet."8
The deity had no image, no ssorifice; she resided only in the hearts
and minds of men. The little grove of olives and laurels that grew
1 Zijvav 6 KiTTifis 6 rrjs aroas ktiVttjs.— 2 Apollod. ii. 8, s. 1; iii. 7, s. 1.
A then. viii. 35, " the founder of the Porch." s Thebaid. xii. 481 sqq.
R
Porch; whence aroa sometimes stands absolutely for that school of
philosophy itself.1 Hence Persius characterizes it by the epithet of
" sapiens;" at the same time alluding to the pictures in it of the Medes
in pantaloons :
" Quaeque docet sapiens braccatis illita Medis
Porticus." Sat. iii. 53.
The only other object which Pausanias mentions on the agora—
which, if he mean the same place, he now for the first time calls by that
name (c. 17, 1)—is an altae of Mercy or Compassion ("EXeo?). Arguing
from the traditions connected with it, this appears to have been a very
ancient altar. For Euripides represents the Heracleidse, sitting upon
it in suppliant guise, to have thus obtained the aid of the Athenians
against Eurystheus; and in like manner, Adrastus having laid upon
it the suppliant bough (ucertfpU) induced Theseus to make war upon
Creon, and compel him to bury the bodies of the Thebans;2 an act
regarded as one of the most signal displays of the philanthropy for
which the Athenians were famous, and celebrated accordingly. Statius
has some fine lines on the subject, which, as they also help to show the
nature of the altar and its surrounding objects, we here insert:
" Urbe ftrit media nulli concessa poteutum
Ara deum; mitis posuit dementia sedem
Et miseri fecere sacrani; sine supplice nunquam
Ilia novo; nulla damnavit vota repulsa.
Auditi quicunque rogant, noctesque diesque
Ire datum et solis numen placare querelis.
Parca superstitio: non turea flamma nee altus
Accipitur sanguis, lacrimis altaria sudant,
Mcestarumque super libamina serta comarum
Pendent, et vestes mutata sorte relicts;.
Mite nemus circa, cultuque insigne verendo
Vittatte lauras et supplicis arbor olivas.
Nulla autem effigies, nulli commissa metallo
Forma dea;; mentes habitave et pectora gaudet."8
The deity had no image, no ssorifice; she resided only in the hearts
and minds of men. The little grove of olives and laurels that grew
1 Zijvav 6 KiTTifis 6 rrjs aroas ktiVttjs.— 2 Apollod. ii. 8, s. 1; iii. 7, s. 1.
A then. viii. 35, " the founder of the Porch." s Thebaid. xii. 481 sqq.
R