DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7897#0070
( 52 )
PLATE XIX
The works of art that relate to the Amazones are extremely numerous,
but few can be referred to any determined event in the history of these he-
roines : the reason may be, either that artists considered the subject as a ge-
neral theme, of which the details were left to their choice; or because they
followed traditions unknown to us.
This painting (i) offers a group, which probably formed part originally,
of a more extensive composition. A warrior in grecian armour, preceded
and guided by an Amazone, are pressing forward with hasty steps.
The subject recalls perhaps a circumstance of the expedition of Her-
cules, when he was sent by Eurystheus to obtain the girdle of Hippolyta,
queen of the Amazones. In the course of this war, Hercules, who was accom-
panied by Theseus, laid siege to Themiscyra capital of the empire of the
Amazones: unable to take it by force, he would have failed in the enterprize,
but Antiope, the daughter of Hippolyta (2), became enamoured of Theseus,
and delivered the city into his hands. Antiope afterwards accompanied
Theseus to Athens, where she became the mother of the unfortunate Hippo-
lytus, and when the Amazones invaded Attica (3), in order to compel The-
seus to restore her, she went out with him to repel the invaders, and was
killed fighting valiantly by his side.
The painting may offer the moment when Antiope introduces Theseus
into the city. The expression of the warrior denotes, in fact, the surprize and
diffidence natural in such a situation. The origin of the monument, which
is from Nola, is a circumstance favourable to this explanation, as the ex-
ploits of Theseus are (4) often represented on the vases of that city, founded
by an Athenian colony.
(1) From a vase in the British Museum.
(2) Pausan. lib. 1. cap. 1.
(3) Isocrates , Panathenaica.
(4) The punishment of Sinis or Pityocamp-
tes is figured, Tischbein , torn. 1. pi. 6. —of
Procustes. Millingen, Vases Grecs,pi. 9 & 10.
The destruction of the Minotaur. Tischbein.
torn. r. pi. a5. His combat with Hippolyta.
Millin. Peint. de Vases, torn. i.pl. 10. A paint-
ing which offers the taming of the Maratho-
PLATE XIX
The works of art that relate to the Amazones are extremely numerous,
but few can be referred to any determined event in the history of these he-
roines : the reason may be, either that artists considered the subject as a ge-
neral theme, of which the details were left to their choice; or because they
followed traditions unknown to us.
This painting (i) offers a group, which probably formed part originally,
of a more extensive composition. A warrior in grecian armour, preceded
and guided by an Amazone, are pressing forward with hasty steps.
The subject recalls perhaps a circumstance of the expedition of Her-
cules, when he was sent by Eurystheus to obtain the girdle of Hippolyta,
queen of the Amazones. In the course of this war, Hercules, who was accom-
panied by Theseus, laid siege to Themiscyra capital of the empire of the
Amazones: unable to take it by force, he would have failed in the enterprize,
but Antiope, the daughter of Hippolyta (2), became enamoured of Theseus,
and delivered the city into his hands. Antiope afterwards accompanied
Theseus to Athens, where she became the mother of the unfortunate Hippo-
lytus, and when the Amazones invaded Attica (3), in order to compel The-
seus to restore her, she went out with him to repel the invaders, and was
killed fighting valiantly by his side.
The painting may offer the moment when Antiope introduces Theseus
into the city. The expression of the warrior denotes, in fact, the surprize and
diffidence natural in such a situation. The origin of the monument, which
is from Nola, is a circumstance favourable to this explanation, as the ex-
ploits of Theseus are (4) often represented on the vases of that city, founded
by an Athenian colony.
(1) From a vase in the British Museum.
(2) Pausan. lib. 1. cap. 1.
(3) Isocrates , Panathenaica.
(4) The punishment of Sinis or Pityocamp-
tes is figured, Tischbein , torn. 1. pi. 6. —of
Procustes. Millingen, Vases Grecs,pi. 9 & 10.
The destruction of the Minotaur. Tischbein.
torn. r. pi. a5. His combat with Hippolyta.
Millin. Peint. de Vases, torn. i.pl. 10. A paint-
ing which offers the taming of the Maratho-