DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5253#0238
206
ARCHAIC SCULPTURE.
high and prominent. Her left hand holds, with rudely executed thumb and
forefinger, a veil, which is only indicated by its raised edge. Her right hand
holds upon her lap a pomegranate. Parallel lines across the knee show that
the sculptor meant to represent her as draped ; and one foot is hidden in a
pointed shoe, like those seen on ancient monuments of Asia Minor. Below
these two large figures we discern two diminutive shapes, — a man approaching,
bearing a cock and an egg; and a woman with a pomegranate and convention-
ally formed bud. . Both of these minute figures are fully draped, the garments
following in sharp lines the contour of the bodies. The woman has her dress
buttoned on the shoulder, and in general
resembles the enthroned figure to whom
she brings offerings. A snake, with a
long, narrow beard, raises itself behind the
throne, having a large comb on its dog-like
head, and its tail curled under the throne,
thus filling out the space otherwise vacant.
Inscriptions on several similar reliefs
aid us in understanding the significance
of these monuments. On one we are told
that a wife, Tyche, dedicated the stele to
her husband, Micos; and other inscrip-
tions make it probable that these seated
figures are representations of the heroed
dead, receiving the homage of kindred and
friends, and not of the great divinities of
the underworld, as was at first supposed.338
As the ancient Greek raised temples to his god; so, in the same spirit of
devotion, he put up these humbler monuments to his dead, honoring them, as it
would seem, with the garments and symbols of the nether world, — Dionysos'
cantharos, Persephone's pomegranate and veil, and the sacred snake. Follow-
ing these interesting reliefs approximately, in the order of their development,
we next notice one now in Sparta, in which the subject is the same as in that
just described, but with a difference in the details.339 A dog, doubtless, like
the snake and pomegranate, of symbolical meaning, sits against the leg of the
throne, regarding the little worshippers who approach. The latter do not
straggle along, but stand side by side in perspective. There is less rigidity in
the lines of this relief ; although the same sharp treatment, as if in layers meas-
ured off, is evident. Other reliefs, with groups facing in the opposite direction,
show a decided advance on this very old class.34° From these the little wor-
shippers have disappeared, the scheme is simpler, and in one case we are
astonished by the naturalness of a piece of drapery falling over the arm of the
throne. The vase is smaller than in the former reliefs, and the surface is more
Fig. 100. Tomb Relief found at Chrysapha, near
Sparta. Saburoff Collection.
ARCHAIC SCULPTURE.
high and prominent. Her left hand holds, with rudely executed thumb and
forefinger, a veil, which is only indicated by its raised edge. Her right hand
holds upon her lap a pomegranate. Parallel lines across the knee show that
the sculptor meant to represent her as draped ; and one foot is hidden in a
pointed shoe, like those seen on ancient monuments of Asia Minor. Below
these two large figures we discern two diminutive shapes, — a man approaching,
bearing a cock and an egg; and a woman with a pomegranate and convention-
ally formed bud. . Both of these minute figures are fully draped, the garments
following in sharp lines the contour of the bodies. The woman has her dress
buttoned on the shoulder, and in general
resembles the enthroned figure to whom
she brings offerings. A snake, with a
long, narrow beard, raises itself behind the
throne, having a large comb on its dog-like
head, and its tail curled under the throne,
thus filling out the space otherwise vacant.
Inscriptions on several similar reliefs
aid us in understanding the significance
of these monuments. On one we are told
that a wife, Tyche, dedicated the stele to
her husband, Micos; and other inscrip-
tions make it probable that these seated
figures are representations of the heroed
dead, receiving the homage of kindred and
friends, and not of the great divinities of
the underworld, as was at first supposed.338
As the ancient Greek raised temples to his god; so, in the same spirit of
devotion, he put up these humbler monuments to his dead, honoring them, as it
would seem, with the garments and symbols of the nether world, — Dionysos'
cantharos, Persephone's pomegranate and veil, and the sacred snake. Follow-
ing these interesting reliefs approximately, in the order of their development,
we next notice one now in Sparta, in which the subject is the same as in that
just described, but with a difference in the details.339 A dog, doubtless, like
the snake and pomegranate, of symbolical meaning, sits against the leg of the
throne, regarding the little worshippers who approach. The latter do not
straggle along, but stand side by side in perspective. There is less rigidity in
the lines of this relief ; although the same sharp treatment, as if in layers meas-
ured off, is evident. Other reliefs, with groups facing in the opposite direction,
show a decided advance on this very old class.34° From these the little wor-
shippers have disappeared, the scheme is simpler, and in one case we are
astonished by the naturalness of a piece of drapery falling over the arm of the
throne. The vase is smaller than in the former reliefs, and the surface is more
Fig. 100. Tomb Relief found at Chrysapha, near
Sparta. Saburoff Collection.