DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5675#0008
(6)
from Athens, and Euboea, or Negropont, settled in dif-
ferent parts of the two Sicilies, it may therefore Justly be
inferred , that they were the Authors of these monuments
the paintings being representations of Games, Races, Gym-
nastic exercifes, Sacrifices, Theatrical representations, and
other ceremonies in use at the feasts of Bacchus, and other
Divinities of ancient Greece , perhaps the Historical sub-
jests, many of which were taken from Homer, may have
been such as were represented at those feasts on their Thea-
tres *, or recited by their Poets, with musical accompani-
ments . It seems highly probable also, that these identical
Vases have been made use of in the Bacchanalian Cere-
monies as there is scarcely a form in my whole Colle6tion,
that is not reprefented in use in the paintings upon one
or other of them-, and as I have before observed, the most
probable conje6hire is, that these sacred Vases were placed
in the sepulchres of such only of the deceased, as had
been initiated in the great Eleusmian Mysteries. It is sur-
prising, that M' Knight, a very learned friend of mine,
should have been able to penetrate so far as it is evident
he has done into thefe mysteries, without the assistance
of such authentic representations, as are now offered to the
Publick, the vases of this latter Colle6tion not having been
discover'd when Mr. Knight published his Treatise on this
subje6t, addressed to the dilettante Society .
It is a Angular circuimstance, that the Vases found in
Greece , and in the two Sicilies, resemble each other so
per-
from Athens, and Euboea, or Negropont, settled in dif-
ferent parts of the two Sicilies, it may therefore Justly be
inferred , that they were the Authors of these monuments
the paintings being representations of Games, Races, Gym-
nastic exercifes, Sacrifices, Theatrical representations, and
other ceremonies in use at the feasts of Bacchus, and other
Divinities of ancient Greece , perhaps the Historical sub-
jests, many of which were taken from Homer, may have
been such as were represented at those feasts on their Thea-
tres *, or recited by their Poets, with musical accompani-
ments . It seems highly probable also, that these identical
Vases have been made use of in the Bacchanalian Cere-
monies as there is scarcely a form in my whole Colle6tion,
that is not reprefented in use in the paintings upon one
or other of them-, and as I have before observed, the most
probable conje6hire is, that these sacred Vases were placed
in the sepulchres of such only of the deceased, as had
been initiated in the great Eleusmian Mysteries. It is sur-
prising, that M' Knight, a very learned friend of mine,
should have been able to penetrate so far as it is evident
he has done into thefe mysteries, without the assistance
of such authentic representations, as are now offered to the
Publick, the vases of this latter Colle6tion not having been
discover'd when Mr. Knight published his Treatise on this
subje6t, addressed to the dilettante Society .
It is a Angular circuimstance, that the Vases found in
Greece , and in the two Sicilies, resemble each other so
per-