DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7898#0020
( io )
with a double row of pearls. Her dress consists of a long tunic reaching to
her feet (i), which are covered with sandals. Over the tunic is the peplos or
upper garment plaited in very minute folds (2), and fastened on the shoulder
by a fibula or buckle in the form of a serpent.
But what deserves more particularly attention, is the manner in which the
regis, conformably with the description of Homer and Hesiod, is attributed to
Minerva instead of a shield (3). Fastened round her neck by a broad belt, and
wrapped over the left arm and hand which are extended, it serves as an object
of terror, and at the same time for a defence.
The notions transmitted by the ancients respecting the aegis being very un-
certain and contradictory, it may be useful to the general reader., to take this
opportunity of offering some observations on the subject.
As the name implies, the segis was originally a goat's skin (4), and like the
skins of other animals, was used for clothing. In the heroic ages, it was of
great service also in war and hunting, where it was worn round the arm (5)
as a protection against weapons or beasts of prey, before the invention of
shields afforded a more efficacious instrument of defence. The first represen-
(1) XlTCOV TTO^vfpVi?.
(2) This statue of Minerva, where the tunic
ind peplos are distinctly expressed, may serve
to illustrate a passage of the Iliad misunder-
stood hy the scholiast, and the modern editors
who have followed his opinion.
In the 5th book, Minerva is described arm-
ing for battle : not to be impeded by super-
fluity of dress, she divests herself of her
peplos or upper-garment. Remaining clad with
her tunic or under-garment, she then puts
on the armour of Jupiter, which on this occa-
sion, she assumes instead of her own :
H §e yiTwv' dv5tji7a, Aio; vefpeAri'yEpeTao
Iliad. E. 736-7.
By altering this punctuation , and removing
the stop to the end of the first line, the ex-
pression ttfytrnt Ato;, which relates to the
oegis and helmet of Jupiter, is applied to the
tunic (yixcov) of Minerva, and the whole sense
of the passage is thus altered, and becomes
unintelligible.
In his edition of Homer, Heyne has restored
the proper punctuation, but whatis singular,
he has left the sense of the passage remain the
same. A greater knowledge of ancient monu-
ments would have enabled him to discover
the true meaning.
(3) These poets, in describing the armour
of Minerva, constantly attribute to her the
;rgis, but never make any mention of a
shield.
(4) Herodotus, lib. iv, cap. 187, see Ancient
Unedited Monuments, Series 1, Greek Vases,
pag. 3.
(5) X^ay.u; viv Sei tvi >,ata«y_eipi iKpisXiTTeiv .
o-ore 7?pOGp,.a-/oiTO T015 Gvipioi;.
Pollux, lib. v, segm. 18.
Winckelmann , Mon. Ined. pag. 10 & 88.
Visconti, Osserv. sopra an Ant. Cameo, rapp.
Giove Egioco, pag. 7.
with a double row of pearls. Her dress consists of a long tunic reaching to
her feet (i), which are covered with sandals. Over the tunic is the peplos or
upper garment plaited in very minute folds (2), and fastened on the shoulder
by a fibula or buckle in the form of a serpent.
But what deserves more particularly attention, is the manner in which the
regis, conformably with the description of Homer and Hesiod, is attributed to
Minerva instead of a shield (3). Fastened round her neck by a broad belt, and
wrapped over the left arm and hand which are extended, it serves as an object
of terror, and at the same time for a defence.
The notions transmitted by the ancients respecting the aegis being very un-
certain and contradictory, it may be useful to the general reader., to take this
opportunity of offering some observations on the subject.
As the name implies, the segis was originally a goat's skin (4), and like the
skins of other animals, was used for clothing. In the heroic ages, it was of
great service also in war and hunting, where it was worn round the arm (5)
as a protection against weapons or beasts of prey, before the invention of
shields afforded a more efficacious instrument of defence. The first represen-
(1) XlTCOV TTO^vfpVi?.
(2) This statue of Minerva, where the tunic
ind peplos are distinctly expressed, may serve
to illustrate a passage of the Iliad misunder-
stood hy the scholiast, and the modern editors
who have followed his opinion.
In the 5th book, Minerva is described arm-
ing for battle : not to be impeded by super-
fluity of dress, she divests herself of her
peplos or upper-garment. Remaining clad with
her tunic or under-garment, she then puts
on the armour of Jupiter, which on this occa-
sion, she assumes instead of her own :
H §e yiTwv' dv5tji7a, Aio; vefpeAri'yEpeTao
Iliad. E. 736-7.
By altering this punctuation , and removing
the stop to the end of the first line, the ex-
pression ttfytrnt Ato;, which relates to the
oegis and helmet of Jupiter, is applied to the
tunic (yixcov) of Minerva, and the whole sense
of the passage is thus altered, and becomes
unintelligible.
In his edition of Homer, Heyne has restored
the proper punctuation, but whatis singular,
he has left the sense of the passage remain the
same. A greater knowledge of ancient monu-
ments would have enabled him to discover
the true meaning.
(3) These poets, in describing the armour
of Minerva, constantly attribute to her the
;rgis, but never make any mention of a
shield.
(4) Herodotus, lib. iv, cap. 187, see Ancient
Unedited Monuments, Series 1, Greek Vases,
pag. 3.
(5) X^ay.u; viv Sei tvi >,ata«y_eipi iKpisXiTTeiv .
o-ore 7?pOGp,.a-/oiTO T015 Gvipioi;.
Pollux, lib. v, segm. 18.
Winckelmann , Mon. Ined. pag. 10 & 88.
Visconti, Osserv. sopra an Ant. Cameo, rapp.
Giove Egioco, pag. 7.