Harrison, Jane Ellen: Introductory studies in Greek art (London: Unwin, 1902)

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STUDIES IN GREEK ART.

perhaps the most Homeric in design. Five warriors are
contending with three lions ; one lion takes flight utterly
at headlong speed ; the second, in rapid flight, turns
round to growl and glare ; the third lion springs over a
prostrate foe to meet the remaining four warriors, who
advance to hurl their lances. There is great diversity of
colouring, due to the inlaying of various metals;
the bodies of the lions are of pale gold, which
may be electron ; their manes are of a deep red gold.
If we could examine in detail all the nine swords,
we should see the same ingenious use of different
metals; fish SAvimming in the sea, a wounded bird
with red blood flowing, flowers with stalks and leaves
of gold and calyxes of electron. The scene of the
lion hunt is very lively; the vigorous drawing of the
fleeing lions may indeed be paralleled in Assyrian
friezes, but there is nothing of the Assyrian about the
thin, eager, half-nude warriors. On some of the blades
there is a careful, minute realism about the treatment
of plant life and water birds that recalls the Nile. If
foreign influence has to be supposed at all, Egypt is
undoubtedly nearer these sword blades than Assyria.
But such a supposition seems unnecessary. When we
see the later perfection of Greek art, when we see its
constant fidelity to nature, we are bound to suppose
naturalistic beginnings (19); here we have monumental
evidence.