Huddilston, John H.: The attitude of the Greek tragedians toward art (London, 1898)

Tragedians toward Art 25

really heightens the effect of the disaster which
later overtook Kapaneus. The inscription in
'golden letters' may be thought of as painted
on the shield. 0

3. With Eteokl^s, however, the notion is quite
different. The emblem on his shield is described
as follows—■

a.VT)p ottAittjs /cAi/xaxos upoaapfiacreis

oret'xe' upbs fyOp&v irvpyov, eK~ipcrai OiXaw1.

The situation is dramatic and interesting for the
period at which Aischylos is writing. Myron
himself would not have ventured so far as to
attempt this bold situation. It is told, however,
of Polygnotos - that he had painted such an
attack on a city, and that he meant the figure
for Kapaneus. Was Aischylos really in debt
here to Polygnotos for his idea ? This question
cannot be answered definitely. It is probable
that the great painter first arrived in Athens
but a few years before the production of the
Septem in 467 b. c. Moreover it would seem
as though it was just about this time that he
began to be popular, and one would rather
expect to find his greatest influence in Athens

1 Sept. vs. 466 f.

■ Pliny, Nat. Hist. 35, 59-