DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5253#0399
CHAPTER XX.
ATTIC SCULPTURES OF THE SECOND HALF OF THE FIFTH CENTURY B.C.
(concluded).
Theseion at Athens. — The Subjects of its Metopes. — The Subjects of its Frieze. — The Erechtheion.
— Its Inscriptions and Sculptural Remains. — Its Portico. — The Caryatidoe.—Temple of Nike
Apteros. — Its Frieze. — Description of its Reliefs. — Comparison with the Theseion—Balustrade
of Temple of Nike Apteros. — Its Reliefs. — Their Style — Influence on Later Works. — Votive
Reliefs of this Age. — Reliefs on South Side of Acropolis from Shrine to Asclepios and his Asso-
ciate Gods. — Humbler Monuments from these Shrines. — Description of some of the Earliest of
these Shrines. — Cause of their Rarity. — Reliefs on Public Tablets. — Sources of their Designs.
— Tombstones. — Stele from Peiraieus.
With great pomp and religious festivities Kimon, in 469 B.C., brought
back, from far-off Skyros, the bones of the Attic hero Theseus, recognized, as
was said, by their heroic size, and gave them a worthy resting-place in Attica.
In connection with this act, he founded a temple to Theseus, —• a building
which, as some suppose, still forms one of the attractions of modern Athens,
now turned into a museum (Fig. 161).6"" The age of this building and of its
sculptures has been a matter of great controversy ; but it is now generally
believed, on account of similarity in style and treatment of subject, that they
are about contemporary with the Parthenon. The pediments were once adorned
with sculptures, which have, however, altogether disappeared, leaving only
traces of their points of attachment, but showing that they were completed
before the roof was put on.6?8 The ten metopes of the east front, as well as
the four down each side, are still attached to the building, and have sculptures
in very high relief in Parian marble.6"? The remaining fifty metopes were
without carving, but probably painted. In the sculptural slabs, which are much
injured, nine of the labors of Heracles are recognized, in one case one scene
occupying two metopes. We see the hero (1) wrestling with the Nemean lion,
(2) fighting the Lernaian Hydra, (3) overtaking the swift stag, (4) bringing
to the hiding Eurystheus the Erymanthian boar, (5) mastering Diomedes'
horses, (6) bringing Kerberos out of the under-world, (7) securing the gir-
dle of the Amazon, Hippolyte. The eighth and ninth metopes are occupied
by the triple-bodied Geryon ; and, in the tenth, Heracles gets the apples of
Hesperides. The remaining metopes, eight in number, relate to the deeds
of Theseus, pre-eminently an Attic hero. One of the best preserved of these
365
ATTIC SCULPTURES OF THE SECOND HALF OF THE FIFTH CENTURY B.C.
(concluded).
Theseion at Athens. — The Subjects of its Metopes. — The Subjects of its Frieze. — The Erechtheion.
— Its Inscriptions and Sculptural Remains. — Its Portico. — The Caryatidoe.—Temple of Nike
Apteros. — Its Frieze. — Description of its Reliefs. — Comparison with the Theseion—Balustrade
of Temple of Nike Apteros. — Its Reliefs. — Their Style — Influence on Later Works. — Votive
Reliefs of this Age. — Reliefs on South Side of Acropolis from Shrine to Asclepios and his Asso-
ciate Gods. — Humbler Monuments from these Shrines. — Description of some of the Earliest of
these Shrines. — Cause of their Rarity. — Reliefs on Public Tablets. — Sources of their Designs.
— Tombstones. — Stele from Peiraieus.
With great pomp and religious festivities Kimon, in 469 B.C., brought
back, from far-off Skyros, the bones of the Attic hero Theseus, recognized, as
was said, by their heroic size, and gave them a worthy resting-place in Attica.
In connection with this act, he founded a temple to Theseus, —• a building
which, as some suppose, still forms one of the attractions of modern Athens,
now turned into a museum (Fig. 161).6"" The age of this building and of its
sculptures has been a matter of great controversy ; but it is now generally
believed, on account of similarity in style and treatment of subject, that they
are about contemporary with the Parthenon. The pediments were once adorned
with sculptures, which have, however, altogether disappeared, leaving only
traces of their points of attachment, but showing that they were completed
before the roof was put on.6?8 The ten metopes of the east front, as well as
the four down each side, are still attached to the building, and have sculptures
in very high relief in Parian marble.6"? The remaining fifty metopes were
without carving, but probably painted. In the sculptural slabs, which are much
injured, nine of the labors of Heracles are recognized, in one case one scene
occupying two metopes. We see the hero (1) wrestling with the Nemean lion,
(2) fighting the Lernaian Hydra, (3) overtaking the swift stag, (4) bringing
to the hiding Eurystheus the Erymanthian boar, (5) mastering Diomedes'
horses, (6) bringing Kerberos out of the under-world, (7) securing the gir-
dle of the Amazon, Hippolyte. The eighth and ninth metopes are occupied
by the triple-bodied Geryon ; and, in the tenth, Heracles gets the apples of
Hesperides. The remaining metopes, eight in number, relate to the deeds
of Theseus, pre-eminently an Attic hero. One of the best preserved of these
365