DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5253#0350
PHEIDIAS' END. 317
cation of his great Parthenos, 438 B.C., scandalous reports were spread about
his private life. Menon, one of his assistants, placed himself in the market-
place, and with olive-branch in hand, as was customary in bringing charges
against those in power, begged for protection while inveighing against his mas-
ter. This being granted by the fickle people, he charged Pheidias with having
appropriated to his private use some of the gold intrusted to him for the dra-
pery of his statue, the Athena Parthenos. Fortunately, this had been so con-
structed, in accordance with Pericles' advice, that it could be removed and
weighed.6ooa This being done, the gold was found intact, and Pheidias' inno-
cence proved. But this was not sufficient: it had been discovered, that, on the
goddess's shield, Pheidias had dared to portray himself and Pericles. Even the
influence of the latter could no longer save the master from the charges of
blasphemy which were now brought against him. The people demanded his
arrest, as of one dangerous to the state ; and Pheidias, who had done, perhaps,
more for the glory of Athens than any other citizen, was led as a criminal to
prison, while his lying enemy, Menon, received distinction and favor. It is
said, that, before the completion of the trial, Pheidias breathed his last within
those dungeon-walls, the victim either of grief and age, or of poison. Another
story, that he fled from Athens to Elis, and there executed the statue of Zeus,
but, suffering similar charges, was finally put to death, has been shown, by
Loeschke and Curtius, to be utterly without foundation, and to have arisen
from a confusion of facts.6oob There can be no doubt, then, that towards the
close of the century, when party strife and bitter contention filled Athens and
threatened the land, Pheidias fell before the political enemies of his great
friend and patron Pericles. But, in spite of his country's ingratitude, later
ages have done him the honor which was his due ; holding, that had Greece
produced but one great man, and that Pheidias, it would have fulfilled a worthy
mission : and the preservation of his last great creation, the Parthenon marbles,
and the reverential honor they receive, seem just, although tardy, amends for
his bitter and undeserved fate.
cation of his great Parthenos, 438 B.C., scandalous reports were spread about
his private life. Menon, one of his assistants, placed himself in the market-
place, and with olive-branch in hand, as was customary in bringing charges
against those in power, begged for protection while inveighing against his mas-
ter. This being granted by the fickle people, he charged Pheidias with having
appropriated to his private use some of the gold intrusted to him for the dra-
pery of his statue, the Athena Parthenos. Fortunately, this had been so con-
structed, in accordance with Pericles' advice, that it could be removed and
weighed.6ooa This being done, the gold was found intact, and Pheidias' inno-
cence proved. But this was not sufficient: it had been discovered, that, on the
goddess's shield, Pheidias had dared to portray himself and Pericles. Even the
influence of the latter could no longer save the master from the charges of
blasphemy which were now brought against him. The people demanded his
arrest, as of one dangerous to the state ; and Pheidias, who had done, perhaps,
more for the glory of Athens than any other citizen, was led as a criminal to
prison, while his lying enemy, Menon, received distinction and favor. It is
said, that, before the completion of the trial, Pheidias breathed his last within
those dungeon-walls, the victim either of grief and age, or of poison. Another
story, that he fled from Athens to Elis, and there executed the statue of Zeus,
but, suffering similar charges, was finally put to death, has been shown, by
Loeschke and Curtius, to be utterly without foundation, and to have arisen
from a confusion of facts.6oob There can be no doubt, then, that towards the
close of the century, when party strife and bitter contention filled Athens and
threatened the land, Pheidias fell before the political enemies of his great
friend and patron Pericles. But, in spite of his country's ingratitude, later
ages have done him the honor which was his due ; holding, that had Greece
produced but one great man, and that Pheidias, it would have fulfilled a worthy
mission : and the preservation of his last great creation, the Parthenon marbles,
and the reverential honor they receive, seem just, although tardy, amends for
his bitter and undeserved fate.