DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5253#0278
EAST-PEDIMENT SCULPTURES, ^GINA. 245
are not seen on any figure of the west pediment. The enemy he fears, and
who is bending over to catch his armor, should have been restored with a
helmet already in his hand, as one of the existing fragments indicates.42° The
fallen warrior (Fig. 119) of the corner also has a helmet and shield; while those
of the other pediment were without armor, and thoroughly nude. But with
what skill the armor was rendered may be seen from the figure of the kneel-
ing archer, appearing in two views on Plate I. of the supplementary Selec-
tions from Ancient Sculpture. He wears a lion's skin, characterizing him as
Heracles. So admirable is the composition of this statue, and so exquisite
indeed is the finish, even of the back, that one is at a loss to determine which
is the front side, and hence in which end of the pediment the figure kneeled.
The presence of this vigorous, youthful Heracles in his helmet of lion's skin,
and armed with his bow, has led to the conjecture that this group has refer-
ence to the conflicts of the /Eginetan Telamon against the Trojan Laomedon,
the ^Eginetans coining off victorious through Heracles' friendly aid. This
beardless figure, we note, has not the bulky, massive form of the Heracles of
later art, but a strong manliness marks the face. Every trace of the set
conventional smile on the faces of the warriors of the other pediment has faded
here, and a stern earnestness has taken its place. Small fragments of a
corresponding kneeling archer, but in Asiatic garments, on the opposite side
of the goddess, were also found.
How admirably the old sculptor could represent a man of years sinking in
the last struggle, we see in this fallen warrior of the left corner (Fig. 119).
His farther leg, now restored as drawn up, should, according to the fragments,
have been more lax, thus lending a truer rhythm to the statue. His face
faintly expresses suffering. The glands in the corners of the eyes, and the
teeth seen through the half-opened lips, impart to the face the look of being
well-nigh fixed in death, as the darkness described in Homeric lay "gathers
over his eyes." This head, suggesting in its forms the pathos of death, was
copied with strange inappropriateness for the erect form of a fighting warrior
of the same pediment in Thorwaldsen's restoration.-i2'
This dying warrior shows how great the advance made in the eastern pedi-
ment on the earlier group at the opposite end of the temple ; and, in fact, the
comparison of the two is a most interesting illustration of development in the
art-spirit, while holding on to a given type. Were it not for the old severity
clinging to this head, especially about the beard, we might consider this won-
derful statue, with its well-proportioned, rhythmical structure, softly flowing
skin, and pulsating veins, to be the work of a master thoroughly freed from
the trammels of earlier art. Throughout this later group the proportions
between loins and shoulders have become correct, and indeed admirable, as
may be seen in this fallen warrior. Even in minor details there is greater
truth to nature : thus, while in the west pediment the middle toes are of equal
are not seen on any figure of the west pediment. The enemy he fears, and
who is bending over to catch his armor, should have been restored with a
helmet already in his hand, as one of the existing fragments indicates.42° The
fallen warrior (Fig. 119) of the corner also has a helmet and shield; while those
of the other pediment were without armor, and thoroughly nude. But with
what skill the armor was rendered may be seen from the figure of the kneel-
ing archer, appearing in two views on Plate I. of the supplementary Selec-
tions from Ancient Sculpture. He wears a lion's skin, characterizing him as
Heracles. So admirable is the composition of this statue, and so exquisite
indeed is the finish, even of the back, that one is at a loss to determine which
is the front side, and hence in which end of the pediment the figure kneeled.
The presence of this vigorous, youthful Heracles in his helmet of lion's skin,
and armed with his bow, has led to the conjecture that this group has refer-
ence to the conflicts of the /Eginetan Telamon against the Trojan Laomedon,
the ^Eginetans coining off victorious through Heracles' friendly aid. This
beardless figure, we note, has not the bulky, massive form of the Heracles of
later art, but a strong manliness marks the face. Every trace of the set
conventional smile on the faces of the warriors of the other pediment has faded
here, and a stern earnestness has taken its place. Small fragments of a
corresponding kneeling archer, but in Asiatic garments, on the opposite side
of the goddess, were also found.
How admirably the old sculptor could represent a man of years sinking in
the last struggle, we see in this fallen warrior of the left corner (Fig. 119).
His farther leg, now restored as drawn up, should, according to the fragments,
have been more lax, thus lending a truer rhythm to the statue. His face
faintly expresses suffering. The glands in the corners of the eyes, and the
teeth seen through the half-opened lips, impart to the face the look of being
well-nigh fixed in death, as the darkness described in Homeric lay "gathers
over his eyes." This head, suggesting in its forms the pathos of death, was
copied with strange inappropriateness for the erect form of a fighting warrior
of the same pediment in Thorwaldsen's restoration.-i2'
This dying warrior shows how great the advance made in the eastern pedi-
ment on the earlier group at the opposite end of the temple ; and, in fact, the
comparison of the two is a most interesting illustration of development in the
art-spirit, while holding on to a given type. Were it not for the old severity
clinging to this head, especially about the beard, we might consider this won-
derful statue, with its well-proportioned, rhythmical structure, softly flowing
skin, and pulsating veins, to be the work of a master thoroughly freed from
the trammels of earlier art. Throughout this later group the proportions
between loins and shoulders have become correct, and indeed admirable, as
may be seen in this fallen warrior. Even in minor details there is greater
truth to nature : thus, while in the west pediment the middle toes are of equal