DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61617#0384
POMPEII
324
lay out your costume, and then stand behind the scenes pressing
my finger tips into the palms of my hands till the applause breaks
forth. Then all a-trembling I breathe again, and enfold you,
godlike poet, in my arms.”
The figures in which we are specially interested, however, are
not those in the upper or middle division of the wall, but those
in the black stripes (3), less than nine inches wide, under the
panels, in the narrow sections (4) and in the corresponding
sections of the base.
In each of the sections at the bottom is a standing figure. In
those of the end wall (5) are a satyr and a bacchante; in the
two nearest the middle of each side wall are Amazons, in the
rest female figures with implements of sacrifice, The Amazons,
Fig. 157. — Psyches gathering flowers.
Wall painting in the house of the Vettii.
armed with battle-axe and shield, are full of life; they are dis-
tinguished by the colors of their mantles and their Phrygian caps.
In the narrow sections on the end walls (4), and all but four
of the others, were Psyches gathering flowers. Only a part of
the scenes are preserved; in each are three figures, grouped
with a pleasing variety and rendered with singular delicacy of
touch. In one, the Psyches are sprightly children; in another,
young girls (Fig. 157); and in a third we see a lady sitting at ease
and plucking the flowers close at hand, while two maids gather
the blossoms beyond her reach.
The two narrow sections nearest the middle panel of each
side wall contained mythological scenes, of which three are pre-
served. The subjects are taken from the cycle of myths relating
to Apollo and Artemis. In one of the pictures both the divini-
324
lay out your costume, and then stand behind the scenes pressing
my finger tips into the palms of my hands till the applause breaks
forth. Then all a-trembling I breathe again, and enfold you,
godlike poet, in my arms.”
The figures in which we are specially interested, however, are
not those in the upper or middle division of the wall, but those
in the black stripes (3), less than nine inches wide, under the
panels, in the narrow sections (4) and in the corresponding
sections of the base.
In each of the sections at the bottom is a standing figure. In
those of the end wall (5) are a satyr and a bacchante; in the
two nearest the middle of each side wall are Amazons, in the
rest female figures with implements of sacrifice, The Amazons,
Fig. 157. — Psyches gathering flowers.
Wall painting in the house of the Vettii.
armed with battle-axe and shield, are full of life; they are dis-
tinguished by the colors of their mantles and their Phrygian caps.
In the narrow sections on the end walls (4), and all but four
of the others, were Psyches gathering flowers. Only a part of
the scenes are preserved; in each are three figures, grouped
with a pleasing variety and rendered with singular delicacy of
touch. In one, the Psyches are sprightly children; in another,
young girls (Fig. 157); and in a third we see a lady sitting at ease
and plucking the flowers close at hand, while two maids gather
the blossoms beyond her reach.
The two narrow sections nearest the middle panel of each
side wall contained mythological scenes, of which three are pre-
served. The subjects are taken from the cycle of myths relating
to Apollo and Artemis. In one of the pictures both the divini-