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

Tragedians toward Art 99

have given his Achilles the helm which he did.
Perhaps it was a gratification to the Athenians
to learn that their Pallas had, after all, the same
designs that were on Achilles' famous helmet.

So far as I have been able to learn, kvtu (v. 473)
has been understood here to mean shield,
a sense that does not in any way fit in with the
description of the armor. The poet proceeds in
natural order from helm to shield, and it follows
of itself that he proceeds to other parts of the
outfit and does not revert again to the shield
which was left ready in v. 469. It seems clear
to me that the word must be interpreted here in
its literal meaning 'concavity,' and have reference
to the breastplate. This was strictly nepnrXevpos,
even more than a shield. This interpretation
renders the progress of the description natural
and sensible. Following upon the account of
shield and helm is the description of cuirass and
spear. On the former of the two latter was the
fire-breathing Chimaira engaging Bellerophon.
This group, which appeared on the Delphi
metopes, has been discussed above *. The breast-
plates on the vase paintings do not assist us in

1 P. 50 f. It should be observed that the Chimaira is painted on
the shield of Kodros in the inside picture of the Kodros kylix in
Bologna. Cf. Vorlegcblattcr, ser. i. pi. 4, and Baumeister's Denk-
maler, iii. p. 1998.

h 2