DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9187#0279
LATER MONUMENTS OF ASIA MINOR
223
actual grave is a modest construction in the form of a sarco-
phagus surmounted by a cover with gables. This stands
transversely within a walled enclosure some 78 feet long by
68 wide, inside measurement. The enclosing wall is built
solidly of squared stones. And it is this which is the
interesting part of the whole; for the wall is adorned
without and within with a series of reliefs, presenting us with
a whole gallery of representations remarkable alike for their
style and their subjects, some of which are portrayed nowhere
else in the whole range of Greek sculpture.
The keynote here again is furnished by the group of seated
heroic personages. This group is sculptured over the door
through which the enclosure is entered; unfortunately it has
so severely suffered that the details are obscure. The great
lintel stone over the doorway is decorated as follows. Above
are the foreparts of four winged bulls, separated by rosettes
and a gorgon-head. Immediately below these are seated two
pairs of figures, in each case male and female. The men are
bearded, the women veiled. Husband and wife are turned
towards one another, and behind the wife in each group stands
a girl, a daughter or servant, holding in one instance a casket,
in the other raising her arms in an attitude of sorrow.
These two heroic pairs are probably the proprietors of the
sacred enclosure, which was built like a finely carved casket to
hold their ashes. In the decoration of the casket we find one
Oriental motive. Over the door inside is a line of dwarfs, or
of repetitions of the Egyptian monster Bes, holding musical
instruments or dancing. Here we have a touch lent by
a religion less refined and artistic than that of the anthropo-
morphic Greeks. The rest of the reliefs take their subjects
from the legendary tales of Greece. We do not appear to
have here, as on the Nereid monument, allusions to the lives
of the buried heroes. There is no scene which bears the
impress of history. The Greek artists who were employed by
223
actual grave is a modest construction in the form of a sarco-
phagus surmounted by a cover with gables. This stands
transversely within a walled enclosure some 78 feet long by
68 wide, inside measurement. The enclosing wall is built
solidly of squared stones. And it is this which is the
interesting part of the whole; for the wall is adorned
without and within with a series of reliefs, presenting us with
a whole gallery of representations remarkable alike for their
style and their subjects, some of which are portrayed nowhere
else in the whole range of Greek sculpture.
The keynote here again is furnished by the group of seated
heroic personages. This group is sculptured over the door
through which the enclosure is entered; unfortunately it has
so severely suffered that the details are obscure. The great
lintel stone over the doorway is decorated as follows. Above
are the foreparts of four winged bulls, separated by rosettes
and a gorgon-head. Immediately below these are seated two
pairs of figures, in each case male and female. The men are
bearded, the women veiled. Husband and wife are turned
towards one another, and behind the wife in each group stands
a girl, a daughter or servant, holding in one instance a casket,
in the other raising her arms in an attitude of sorrow.
These two heroic pairs are probably the proprietors of the
sacred enclosure, which was built like a finely carved casket to
hold their ashes. In the decoration of the casket we find one
Oriental motive. Over the door inside is a line of dwarfs, or
of repetitions of the Egyptian monster Bes, holding musical
instruments or dancing. Here we have a touch lent by
a religion less refined and artistic than that of the anthropo-
morphic Greeks. The rest of the reliefs take their subjects
from the legendary tales of Greece. We do not appear to
have here, as on the Nereid monument, allusions to the lives
of the buried heroes. There is no scene which bears the
impress of history. The Greek artists who were employed by