DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7897#0044
(*6)
marine goddess (i 3). Neptune, at the solicitation of Jupiter Avas peculiarly,
favourable to Peleus, and presented him with two fiery steeds Xanthus and
Balius(i4) on the occasion.
The tree placed behind Neptune, indicates the term of the composition,
and, at the same time, the nature of the place; had it been the olive tree,
according to the hypothesis of Mr Wilkins, it must necessarily have been
placed between Neptune and the supposed Minerva.
Passing to the other side : on the left of Thetis, is a chariot, probably that
of Peleus, in which he conducted Thetis to Pharsalus, after the nuptial cere-
mony. The figure in the chariot has been taken for Apollo (i5), but it has
none of the attributes of that god , and it is rather the charioteer of
Peleus (16): his name was doubtless expressed by the letters which have been
supposed to indicate Apollo. A female figure precedes the car: over her is
written KYMX2, which is followed, at a short distance, by OXH: it is probable
that an intervening letter A is obliterated and that instead of X there is a K, in
which case we should read KYMOAOKH which, in fact, is the name of one of
the Nereids (17), sisters of Thetis.
This reading is more natural than to consider OXH as a separate word. The
names of personages were frequently expressed by the ancients, but no instance
occurs with respect to inanimate objects. It may be added that the word oyv\
never occurs in the Greek language, and is not to be found in any lexicon.
The nymph Cymodocea is preceded by Pan, represented with horns, as on the
(i3) Tajj-Spov IIo<j£t5acova Trusca?.
Pindar, Nem. Od. \,vers. 67.
Jupiter, to reward the virtue of Peleus who
had rejected the advances of Hippolyta, wife
of Acastus, gave him one of the Nereids, and
engaged Neptune to give his consent to the
marriage.
Schol. in Pindar. Nem. Od. v, vers. 67.
Nereaque et natas, et totum temperat sequor.
Ovid. Metam. lib. xn, vers. o,3.
Cui Thetis. O magni rector genitorque profundi
Stat. Achill. lib. 1, vers. 61.
Tene Thetis tenuit pulcherrima Neptumne
Tene suam Tethys concessit ducere neptem?
Oceanusque mare totum qui amplectitur or-
bem.
Catull. Epith. Thet. et Pel. vers. a8-3o.
(14) ApollodorUS., loc. cit. Schol in Pindar.
Pylh., Od. in, vers. 160— 168.
(15) At the time this painting was executed,
Helios or the Sun, and Apollo, were separate
divinities, though afterwards confounded.
(16) On many ancient works of art descri-
bed by Pausanias , heroic personages were re-
presented accompanied by their charioteers.
Hvioyoi.
(17) Homer, Iliad. 2, vers. 3c,. Hesiod. Theo-
gon. vers. a5a. Virgil. Georgic. lib. iv, vers. 33o.
marine goddess (i 3). Neptune, at the solicitation of Jupiter Avas peculiarly,
favourable to Peleus, and presented him with two fiery steeds Xanthus and
Balius(i4) on the occasion.
The tree placed behind Neptune, indicates the term of the composition,
and, at the same time, the nature of the place; had it been the olive tree,
according to the hypothesis of Mr Wilkins, it must necessarily have been
placed between Neptune and the supposed Minerva.
Passing to the other side : on the left of Thetis, is a chariot, probably that
of Peleus, in which he conducted Thetis to Pharsalus, after the nuptial cere-
mony. The figure in the chariot has been taken for Apollo (i5), but it has
none of the attributes of that god , and it is rather the charioteer of
Peleus (16): his name was doubtless expressed by the letters which have been
supposed to indicate Apollo. A female figure precedes the car: over her is
written KYMX2, which is followed, at a short distance, by OXH: it is probable
that an intervening letter A is obliterated and that instead of X there is a K, in
which case we should read KYMOAOKH which, in fact, is the name of one of
the Nereids (17), sisters of Thetis.
This reading is more natural than to consider OXH as a separate word. The
names of personages were frequently expressed by the ancients, but no instance
occurs with respect to inanimate objects. It may be added that the word oyv\
never occurs in the Greek language, and is not to be found in any lexicon.
The nymph Cymodocea is preceded by Pan, represented with horns, as on the
(i3) Tajj-Spov IIo<j£t5acova Trusca?.
Pindar, Nem. Od. \,vers. 67.
Jupiter, to reward the virtue of Peleus who
had rejected the advances of Hippolyta, wife
of Acastus, gave him one of the Nereids, and
engaged Neptune to give his consent to the
marriage.
Schol. in Pindar. Nem. Od. v, vers. 67.
Nereaque et natas, et totum temperat sequor.
Ovid. Metam. lib. xn, vers. o,3.
Cui Thetis. O magni rector genitorque profundi
Stat. Achill. lib. 1, vers. 61.
Tene Thetis tenuit pulcherrima Neptumne
Tene suam Tethys concessit ducere neptem?
Oceanusque mare totum qui amplectitur or-
bem.
Catull. Epith. Thet. et Pel. vers. a8-3o.
(14) ApollodorUS., loc. cit. Schol in Pindar.
Pylh., Od. in, vers. 160— 168.
(15) At the time this painting was executed,
Helios or the Sun, and Apollo, were separate
divinities, though afterwards confounded.
(16) On many ancient works of art descri-
bed by Pausanias , heroic personages were re-
presented accompanied by their charioteers.
Hvioyoi.
(17) Homer, Iliad. 2, vers. 3c,. Hesiod. Theo-
gon. vers. a5a. Virgil. Georgic. lib. iv, vers. 33o.