DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.800#0397
THE GRACES OF SOCRATES. 375
stands a Hermes Propyleeus and the Graces. It is evident, not only
from the words of Pausanias here,1 but also from what follows, that he
has now passed the gates in the wall of the megaron, and is on the
eastern side of it. We mention this because Meursius, who had no
local knowledge of Athens, places these statues on the western side,2
and so in the following chapter goes on to describe the Temple of
Victory and the Pinacotheca. From the words of Pausanias it very
clearly appears that he considered Socrates to have executed the Hermes
Propylseus as well as the Graces ;3 though in general only the latter are
spoken of as his work. It is true that when he reverts to this group in
his Boeotica, in the passage quoted in note l, he mentions only the
Graces ; but this is natural enough, as he is there speaking particularly
of these deities. Diogenes Laertius also mentions only the Graces as
the work of Socrates ;4 and no doubt they formed the most striking part
of the group; as, according to the ancient fashion they were clothed,
whilst in more modern times they were represented naked. Pausanias
did not know who had introduced this innovation, which in his time was
universally adopted. Let us observe that Diogenes Laertius speaks
with no certainty of this group being the work of Socrates; he mentions
it only as a partial report. That Socrates executed some such group
may be pretty certainly inferred from the general testimony to that
effect. Aristophanes appears to have a sly allusion to it when he
makes Socrates swear by the Graces.5 But according to the scholia
on that passage, they seem to have been sculptured on a wall—there-
fore a bas-relief—behind the Parthenon.6 As the Graces at the Pro-
pylaea were clothed, they must at all events have been an ancient work.
1 Kara Se tt)v tvoBov avrrjv rjdrj ttjv es Xdpiras ^aiKpdrrjv jtoitJotu \iyovirtv.—loc.
aKponoKiv. That this is the meaning also cit.
appears from another passage where lie * tlvai re airov Kai rat iv aKpoTrokei
alludes again to these Graces, and mentions Xdpiras ivioi (pacrtv, tvScSvpivas ova-as.—
them as being irpb rrjs c's Tt)v aKpoiroXiv Vit. Socr. ii. 19.
(o-obov (ix. 35, 2) in front of the entrance 6 Nubes, 773.
to the acropolis, that is, its eastern front. 6 ojr«ra> rrjs 'Aft/rar y\v(pti<rai iv r<5
2 Cecropia, cap. 7. '""'X'?-
VpprjVy ov Trpoiru'Xaiov ovoftafav&li Kai
stands a Hermes Propyleeus and the Graces. It is evident, not only
from the words of Pausanias here,1 but also from what follows, that he
has now passed the gates in the wall of the megaron, and is on the
eastern side of it. We mention this because Meursius, who had no
local knowledge of Athens, places these statues on the western side,2
and so in the following chapter goes on to describe the Temple of
Victory and the Pinacotheca. From the words of Pausanias it very
clearly appears that he considered Socrates to have executed the Hermes
Propylseus as well as the Graces ;3 though in general only the latter are
spoken of as his work. It is true that when he reverts to this group in
his Boeotica, in the passage quoted in note l, he mentions only the
Graces ; but this is natural enough, as he is there speaking particularly
of these deities. Diogenes Laertius also mentions only the Graces as
the work of Socrates ;4 and no doubt they formed the most striking part
of the group; as, according to the ancient fashion they were clothed,
whilst in more modern times they were represented naked. Pausanias
did not know who had introduced this innovation, which in his time was
universally adopted. Let us observe that Diogenes Laertius speaks
with no certainty of this group being the work of Socrates; he mentions
it only as a partial report. That Socrates executed some such group
may be pretty certainly inferred from the general testimony to that
effect. Aristophanes appears to have a sly allusion to it when he
makes Socrates swear by the Graces.5 But according to the scholia
on that passage, they seem to have been sculptured on a wall—there-
fore a bas-relief—behind the Parthenon.6 As the Graces at the Pro-
pylaea were clothed, they must at all events have been an ancient work.
1 Kara Se tt)v tvoBov avrrjv rjdrj ttjv es Xdpiras ^aiKpdrrjv jtoitJotu \iyovirtv.—loc.
aKponoKiv. That this is the meaning also cit.
appears from another passage where lie * tlvai re airov Kai rat iv aKpoTrokei
alludes again to these Graces, and mentions Xdpiras ivioi (pacrtv, tvScSvpivas ova-as.—
them as being irpb rrjs c's Tt)v aKpoiroXiv Vit. Socr. ii. 19.
(o-obov (ix. 35, 2) in front of the entrance 6 Nubes, 773.
to the acropolis, that is, its eastern front. 6 ojr«ra> rrjs 'Aft/rar y\v(pti<rai iv r<5
2 Cecropia, cap. 7. '""'X'?-
VpprjVy ov Trpoiru'Xaiov ovoftafav&li Kai