DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5596#0045
22
INTRODUCTION.
pedestal of the statue the name of the birth of Pandora has been
given ; and the figures of the assisting gods to be seen upon it are
no fewer than twenty in number. The figure of Victory, in par-
ticular, is most admirable, and connoisseurs are greatly struck with
the serpent and the sphinx in bronze lying beneath the end of the
spear. Let thus much be said incidentally in reference to an
artist who can never be sufficiently praised, if only to let it be
understood that the richness of his genius was always equal to
itself, even in the very smallest details." 1
The statue was robbed of its gold mantle by
Lachares, in the reign of Demetrius. It appears
to have existed up to the time of the Emperor
Julian, after which we lose all trace of it.2
It is fortunate for art, that while all the great
chryselephantine works of antiquity are destroyed,
the Minerva of Athens is still known to us by no
fewer than five antique copies of this celebrated
statue. These copies are of course reduced, being-
only of about life-size; but in all these statues we
observe the same attitude of the figure and arrange-
1 Plin. R. JST. xxxvi. 4.
2 These spoliations were not unfrequent. At Antioch was a
statue of Jupiter, considered to be a rival of the Jupiter Olym-
pius. In its hand was a golden figure of Victory, which Alexander
took away, saying, he wished to receive victory from the hands of
Jupiter. At Syracuse were several such statues holding Victories.
Dionysius, the tyrant, took them all away, saying, he did not take
them, he accepted them. On one occasion he took away the gold
mantle from the Jupiter Olympius, saying, it was too hot for him
in summer-time, and a purple garment would be cooler. He also
took away the golden beard of the statue of iEsculapius at Syracuse.
—Val. Max. De Neglect. Belig. ext. Exempt. See also Lucian's
Jupiter Tragcedus for similar acts of depredation.
INTRODUCTION.
pedestal of the statue the name of the birth of Pandora has been
given ; and the figures of the assisting gods to be seen upon it are
no fewer than twenty in number. The figure of Victory, in par-
ticular, is most admirable, and connoisseurs are greatly struck with
the serpent and the sphinx in bronze lying beneath the end of the
spear. Let thus much be said incidentally in reference to an
artist who can never be sufficiently praised, if only to let it be
understood that the richness of his genius was always equal to
itself, even in the very smallest details." 1
The statue was robbed of its gold mantle by
Lachares, in the reign of Demetrius. It appears
to have existed up to the time of the Emperor
Julian, after which we lose all trace of it.2
It is fortunate for art, that while all the great
chryselephantine works of antiquity are destroyed,
the Minerva of Athens is still known to us by no
fewer than five antique copies of this celebrated
statue. These copies are of course reduced, being-
only of about life-size; but in all these statues we
observe the same attitude of the figure and arrange-
1 Plin. R. JST. xxxvi. 4.
2 These spoliations were not unfrequent. At Antioch was a
statue of Jupiter, considered to be a rival of the Jupiter Olym-
pius. In its hand was a golden figure of Victory, which Alexander
took away, saying, he wished to receive victory from the hands of
Jupiter. At Syracuse were several such statues holding Victories.
Dionysius, the tyrant, took them all away, saying, he did not take
them, he accepted them. On one occasion he took away the gold
mantle from the Jupiter Olympius, saying, it was too hot for him
in summer-time, and a purple garment would be cooler. He also
took away the golden beard of the statue of iEsculapius at Syracuse.
—Val. Max. De Neglect. Belig. ext. Exempt. See also Lucian's
Jupiter Tragcedus for similar acts of depredation.