DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5253#0228
196
ARCHAIC SCULPTURE.
round, in fine white Parian marble (Fig. 93). From its crude style, and its
cast of features very like the face of the so-called Apollo of Thera (p. 193), as
well as the characters of the inscription with Archermos' name, it must belong
to the earlier half of the sixth century B.C., confirming the date already in-
ferred from the story about Hipponax. Our statue is clad in a long, flowing
garment, which falls in rude folds between the legs, but about the waist fits
as tightly as modern corsets, producing an unnatural shape. Holes around
the marble band in her hair indicate that a diadem of metal once rested on
her head. A necklace of fine design is not painted, but carved in the marble
about her neck, imitating the ornaments of jewellery probably used on old
idols; and metal ear-rings, as holes indicate, doubtless once adorned her ears.
Looking at her lean form in front, with one bared arm dropping at the side,
and the other advanced, but now broken, she seems to be moving rapidly. The
Fig. 93. Winged Nike by Archermos of Chios. Myconos.
Fig. 94. Winged Nike by Archermos of Chios.
mystery of her motion is, however, explained on viewing the back of the statue
(Fig. 94). Here the broken fragments of the two wings are visible which once
spread outward beyond her shoulders, and show that she is flying. Better to
appreciate her movement, we may glance at the figure as it would be accord-
ing to Furtwangler's proposed restoration (Fig. 95), which was made, however,
before the new part of the inscription was found, and consequently omits the
dedication to Artemis. In this quaint figure so fully furnished with wings, in
keeping with the spirit of Ionian art, partial to many wings, we doubtless have
the image called Nike by later generations, and giving rise to the report that
Archermos first gave Nike wings. The strange appendages attached to her
feet must be wings, which once were painted, and often appear on representa-
tions of the Gorgon. But how different this rude but beaming, kindly face
from the Gorgon's horrible mask ! The representation of Nike according tc
this same scheme appears on a very old image in terra-cotta discovered in
Olympia, but with greater success than here ; and on the staters of the Ionian
Kyzicos we see this same type continued.306 This is a favorite scheme for
ARCHAIC SCULPTURE.
round, in fine white Parian marble (Fig. 93). From its crude style, and its
cast of features very like the face of the so-called Apollo of Thera (p. 193), as
well as the characters of the inscription with Archermos' name, it must belong
to the earlier half of the sixth century B.C., confirming the date already in-
ferred from the story about Hipponax. Our statue is clad in a long, flowing
garment, which falls in rude folds between the legs, but about the waist fits
as tightly as modern corsets, producing an unnatural shape. Holes around
the marble band in her hair indicate that a diadem of metal once rested on
her head. A necklace of fine design is not painted, but carved in the marble
about her neck, imitating the ornaments of jewellery probably used on old
idols; and metal ear-rings, as holes indicate, doubtless once adorned her ears.
Looking at her lean form in front, with one bared arm dropping at the side,
and the other advanced, but now broken, she seems to be moving rapidly. The
Fig. 93. Winged Nike by Archermos of Chios. Myconos.
Fig. 94. Winged Nike by Archermos of Chios.
mystery of her motion is, however, explained on viewing the back of the statue
(Fig. 94). Here the broken fragments of the two wings are visible which once
spread outward beyond her shoulders, and show that she is flying. Better to
appreciate her movement, we may glance at the figure as it would be accord-
ing to Furtwangler's proposed restoration (Fig. 95), which was made, however,
before the new part of the inscription was found, and consequently omits the
dedication to Artemis. In this quaint figure so fully furnished with wings, in
keeping with the spirit of Ionian art, partial to many wings, we doubtless have
the image called Nike by later generations, and giving rise to the report that
Archermos first gave Nike wings. The strange appendages attached to her
feet must be wings, which once were painted, and often appear on representa-
tions of the Gorgon. But how different this rude but beaming, kindly face
from the Gorgon's horrible mask ! The representation of Nike according tc
this same scheme appears on a very old image in terra-cotta discovered in
Olympia, but with greater success than here ; and on the staters of the Ionian
Kyzicos we see this same type continued.306 This is a favorite scheme for