DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.804#0057
CASTS FROM THE TEMPLE OF THESEUS. 50
Colonel Leake gives an explanation of the story
which is presumed to be told in this frieze, somewhat
different, but probably nearer to the truth than Stuart's.
He says, " The dimensions of the prostrate figure in
the middle compartment, and the weapons of the.
others, which are rocks beyond all proportion to the
size of the combatants, leave little doubt that the
subject of the whole composition is that which was so
often described in the Athenian temples, namely the
Gigantomachia, or battle of the giants, who were said
to have hurled whole mountains against the gods,
and to have been subdued chiefly through the exertions
of Hercules *. As all the gods were supposed to have
heen engaged, or at least to have been present upon
this occasion, the sis seated deities are probably
intended by the sculptor for those of the highest rank,
with whose dignity he may have thought it most con-
sistent to describe them as present only, but not
absolutely taking part in the combat. Apollo, Bac-
chus, Mars, and Mercury, we may suppose to be
engaged together with Hercules in the action. Behind
Minerva, at the extremity of the frieze, to the spec-
tator's left, is a group representing a young warrior,
who binds the arms of a captive giant behind his back.
The helmet upon the victor's head may perhaps be
intended to characterize Mars." This frjeze was seen
at only a small elevation compared with that of the
Parthenon; the height of the columns in the temple
heing about nineteen feet.
Casts in plaster from the sculptures on the frieze
°f the posticum, or west end of the temple of
■1 heseus, representing the combat of the Centaurs and
the Lapitlue, with casts of three of the metopes of
the north side of that temple, will be found at the
* Apollod. lib. i. c. 6. lib. ii. c. 7 ; Diol Sic. lib, iv, c. 15;
Villus Ital. lib. rvii. v. 650,
Colonel Leake gives an explanation of the story
which is presumed to be told in this frieze, somewhat
different, but probably nearer to the truth than Stuart's.
He says, " The dimensions of the prostrate figure in
the middle compartment, and the weapons of the.
others, which are rocks beyond all proportion to the
size of the combatants, leave little doubt that the
subject of the whole composition is that which was so
often described in the Athenian temples, namely the
Gigantomachia, or battle of the giants, who were said
to have hurled whole mountains against the gods,
and to have been subdued chiefly through the exertions
of Hercules *. As all the gods were supposed to have
heen engaged, or at least to have been present upon
this occasion, the sis seated deities are probably
intended by the sculptor for those of the highest rank,
with whose dignity he may have thought it most con-
sistent to describe them as present only, but not
absolutely taking part in the combat. Apollo, Bac-
chus, Mars, and Mercury, we may suppose to be
engaged together with Hercules in the action. Behind
Minerva, at the extremity of the frieze, to the spec-
tator's left, is a group representing a young warrior,
who binds the arms of a captive giant behind his back.
The helmet upon the victor's head may perhaps be
intended to characterize Mars." This frjeze was seen
at only a small elevation compared with that of the
Parthenon; the height of the columns in the temple
heing about nineteen feet.
Casts in plaster from the sculptures on the frieze
°f the posticum, or west end of the temple of
■1 heseus, representing the combat of the Centaurs and
the Lapitlue, with casts of three of the metopes of
the north side of that temple, will be found at the
* Apollod. lib. i. c. 6. lib. ii. c. 7 ; Diol Sic. lib, iv, c. 15;
Villus Ital. lib. rvii. v. 650,