DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5253#0315
282
ARCHAIC SCULPTURE.
Sicily offers somewhat more in archaic sculpture than do its neighboring
states ; its works being well-preserved temple-sculptures from Selinus, now in
the museum at Palermo.5°6 These are in stone, and decorated a temple built
later than that to which the famous metopes of Selinus, described above, be-
longed (p. 221). Among the sculptures are scenes from the combats of gods
with giants, — the same subject which, as we have seen (p. 211), had been em-
ployed by other and older sculptors to decorate the Megara treasury in Olympia.
On one of these reliefs (Fig. 134), now in the Palermo Museum, a goddess, prob-
ably Athena, appears, planting one foot firmly on the leg of her fallen enemy,
Fig. 134. Athena slaying a Giant. From Selinus. Palermo.
who raises his arm as if to defend himself. As the upper half of the goddess
is unfortunately gone, we can only imagine her gesture of attack or triumph.
Her motion is full of swing, but not stormy, as may be seen from the quiet
drapery. In keeping with ancient song, the giant here is shaped and armed like
men, having a trim human form and warrior's helmet. His position is natural;
but his stereotyped face, painfully regular hair and beard, and the position of
Athena's farther foot, planted firmly on the ground when it should naturally be
poised on the toes, show clearly that this relief has its place among those
archaic works in which many features of the old still appear, but are vanish-
ing before the strong new life.
ARCHAIC SCULPTURE.
Sicily offers somewhat more in archaic sculpture than do its neighboring
states ; its works being well-preserved temple-sculptures from Selinus, now in
the museum at Palermo.5°6 These are in stone, and decorated a temple built
later than that to which the famous metopes of Selinus, described above, be-
longed (p. 221). Among the sculptures are scenes from the combats of gods
with giants, — the same subject which, as we have seen (p. 211), had been em-
ployed by other and older sculptors to decorate the Megara treasury in Olympia.
On one of these reliefs (Fig. 134), now in the Palermo Museum, a goddess, prob-
ably Athena, appears, planting one foot firmly on the leg of her fallen enemy,
Fig. 134. Athena slaying a Giant. From Selinus. Palermo.
who raises his arm as if to defend himself. As the upper half of the goddess
is unfortunately gone, we can only imagine her gesture of attack or triumph.
Her motion is full of swing, but not stormy, as may be seen from the quiet
drapery. In keeping with ancient song, the giant here is shaped and armed like
men, having a trim human form and warrior's helmet. His position is natural;
but his stereotyped face, painfully regular hair and beard, and the position of
Athena's farther foot, planted firmly on the ground when it should naturally be
poised on the toes, show clearly that this relief has its place among those
archaic works in which many features of the old still appear, but are vanish-
ing before the strong new life.