Gardner, Ernest Arthur: Poet and artist in Greece (London: Duckworth, 1933)

THE ODYSSEY

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some are combined together. On a very early vase signed
by Aristonous there is a spirited composition. The
Cyclops is seated on the ground, and Odysseus and four
companions thrust the stake into his eye ; the last of
them presses his foot against the edge of the picture, as if
to get a better purchase. Behind the Cyclops is a stake
supporting a cheese-basket. The monster is on the same
scale as the Greeks. According to the Odyssey, when

18. Odysseus and Cyclops (Laconian Vase)


those who were to assist Odysseus with the club were
selected by lot, the lot fell upon those four whom Odysseus
himself would have chosen. The number on the vase
corresponds with this ; but this coincidence may be
merely accidental, and may depend more upon the amount
of space available than on any desire to follow the nar-
rative in detail. On an early Laconian (or Cyrenaic) vase
the scene is treated by the comprehensive method ; as
much of the story as possible being included in a single
picture. The companions of Odysseus are in this case