DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5253#0153
CYPRIOTE MONSTER.
121
islanders, even after they had become thoroughly acquainted with the Greek
modes and spirit. Such portrait statues make up the larger part of the Cypri-
ote statuary in the Metropolitan Museum in New York, whether crude and
barbarous, or more advanced in style.
In addition, Cypriote art offers a few representations of deity. Among
these, we see a human figure with a ram's head,
which, like the hawk-headed deities, point to Egypt
as a land from which the Cypriotes borrowed.
Heracles, so important in original Phoenician myth
as Melkart, is also met with in large as well as
small figures. In one colossal statue, discovered
at Amathus, and now in Constantinople, this semi-
Oriental hero clasps to his side a lion of dispro-
portionately small size.153
There is in the Metropolitan Museum, No.
156 (Fig. 64), a most unique combination, worthy of
notice, which is said to have been untouched by
modern restoration, and doubtless had to the Cypri-
otes of old a religious significance now impossi-
ble to divine. Here we see, carved apparently
from a single block of coarse limestone, a bearded
man, with wings starting from his chest, and a
true lion, this monument not exceeding seventy-
six centimeters (two and one-half feet) in height.
The man wears what seems to be the double
crown of Egypt, and stands back to back to the
lion, who looks in the opposite direction, with ears
erect, and showing his grim teeth. This fabulous
combination seems remotely to suggest Assyrian
portal monsters, but has Egyptian additions, and
native Cypriote features.
Female figures in Cypriote art are very fre-
quent, often holding with the right hand a blos-
som to the breast, and with the left raising the
drapery. By many, this frequently recurring female
figure is thought to represent Aphrodite ; but by others it is supposed to be
simply a worshipper.'54 Certain well-developed female heads, wearing high
mural crowns, may represent the genius of some city; but the crown doubtless
points to the fact, that the idea of this goddess was borrowed from Asia Minor,
where similar mural coronets appear in very ancient rock sculptures of Cap-
padokia; a similar head adornment being likewise seen on coins with the effigy
of the Ephesian Artemis.
Fig. 63.
Portrait Statue of Cypriote
Worshipper.
121
islanders, even after they had become thoroughly acquainted with the Greek
modes and spirit. Such portrait statues make up the larger part of the Cypri-
ote statuary in the Metropolitan Museum in New York, whether crude and
barbarous, or more advanced in style.
In addition, Cypriote art offers a few representations of deity. Among
these, we see a human figure with a ram's head,
which, like the hawk-headed deities, point to Egypt
as a land from which the Cypriotes borrowed.
Heracles, so important in original Phoenician myth
as Melkart, is also met with in large as well as
small figures. In one colossal statue, discovered
at Amathus, and now in Constantinople, this semi-
Oriental hero clasps to his side a lion of dispro-
portionately small size.153
There is in the Metropolitan Museum, No.
156 (Fig. 64), a most unique combination, worthy of
notice, which is said to have been untouched by
modern restoration, and doubtless had to the Cypri-
otes of old a religious significance now impossi-
ble to divine. Here we see, carved apparently
from a single block of coarse limestone, a bearded
man, with wings starting from his chest, and a
true lion, this monument not exceeding seventy-
six centimeters (two and one-half feet) in height.
The man wears what seems to be the double
crown of Egypt, and stands back to back to the
lion, who looks in the opposite direction, with ears
erect, and showing his grim teeth. This fabulous
combination seems remotely to suggest Assyrian
portal monsters, but has Egyptian additions, and
native Cypriote features.
Female figures in Cypriote art are very fre-
quent, often holding with the right hand a blos-
som to the breast, and with the left raising the
drapery. By many, this frequently recurring female
figure is thought to represent Aphrodite ; but by others it is supposed to be
simply a worshipper.'54 Certain well-developed female heads, wearing high
mural crowns, may represent the genius of some city; but the crown doubtless
points to the fact, that the idea of this goddess was borrowed from Asia Minor,
where similar mural coronets appear in very ancient rock sculptures of Cap-
padokia; a similar head adornment being likewise seen on coins with the effigy
of the Ephesian Artemis.
Fig. 63.
Portrait Statue of Cypriote
Worshipper.