DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5675#0026
Plate 6.) The life of Asiyanax gave uneasmesi to the
Greeks, they were apprehensive lest he should one day
become the avenger of his father Heftor, and be the restorer
of Troy. The winds being unfavourable for the return to
Greece, Calchas declared, that to fatisfy the Gods, it was ne-
cessary that Asiyanax shoud be thrown from the top of the
walls-, In vain had Andromache concealed her son, Ulysses dis
cover'd him, and caused the cruel sentence to be executed [a\
The Plate represents the moment which preceeded
this barbarous execution. A young girl, perhaps Polyxena,
aunt to the young Prince, intercedes with Ulysses in his
behalf. This fierce King had given his orders, and pays
no attention to the supplication which is addressed to him.
A Soldier placed on the top of a turret , holds Asiyanax
on one of his knees, he threatens him with bis sword, and
turns his eyes towards Ulysses to be ready to obey his com-
mands on the first signal. A slight uneasiness is expressed in
the child's countenance, he stretches out his arms towards his
nurse, who trembling and in despair, tries to retard the fatal
moment, in hopes that Ulysses might be brought to relent.
Plate 7.) The Ancients often gave Angular forms to
their Vases which served them for drinking. Some repre-
sented parts of the human body {b\ others the heads of ani-
mals {c\ sometimes they represented on each side the half
of the heads of different animals, such is the Vase engra-
ved on this Plate. It is composed of the head of a Ram,
and that of a wild Boar , of each of which it shews the
half. Until these Vases were discover'd in the sepulchres
of the Ancients , it cou'd not have been imagined that
they had ever made use of such mixed and monstruous
forms i we see now what that Vase was of which Alexis
speaks
(a) Scrvius JEneid. L. HI. v. 489. (c) J)e la ChauJJe des bulks, des vases, &c,
(b) Vitrco bibit ilk Priapo. Juv, Sat. II,
Greeks, they were apprehensive lest he should one day
become the avenger of his father Heftor, and be the restorer
of Troy. The winds being unfavourable for the return to
Greece, Calchas declared, that to fatisfy the Gods, it was ne-
cessary that Asiyanax shoud be thrown from the top of the
walls-, In vain had Andromache concealed her son, Ulysses dis
cover'd him, and caused the cruel sentence to be executed [a\
The Plate represents the moment which preceeded
this barbarous execution. A young girl, perhaps Polyxena,
aunt to the young Prince, intercedes with Ulysses in his
behalf. This fierce King had given his orders, and pays
no attention to the supplication which is addressed to him.
A Soldier placed on the top of a turret , holds Asiyanax
on one of his knees, he threatens him with bis sword, and
turns his eyes towards Ulysses to be ready to obey his com-
mands on the first signal. A slight uneasiness is expressed in
the child's countenance, he stretches out his arms towards his
nurse, who trembling and in despair, tries to retard the fatal
moment, in hopes that Ulysses might be brought to relent.
Plate 7.) The Ancients often gave Angular forms to
their Vases which served them for drinking. Some repre-
sented parts of the human body {b\ others the heads of ani-
mals {c\ sometimes they represented on each side the half
of the heads of different animals, such is the Vase engra-
ved on this Plate. It is composed of the head of a Ram,
and that of a wild Boar , of each of which it shews the
half. Until these Vases were discover'd in the sepulchres
of the Ancients , it cou'd not have been imagined that
they had ever made use of such mixed and monstruous
forms i we see now what that Vase was of which Alexis
speaks
(a) Scrvius JEneid. L. HI. v. 489. (c) J)e la ChauJJe des bulks, des vases, &c,
(b) Vitrco bibit ilk Priapo. Juv, Sat. II,