DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5253#0434
400
THE AGE OF PHEIUIAS AND OF POLYCLEITOS.
of a fellow-warrior; having dropped his round shield, which an Amazon, eager
for the precious trophy, is slyly catching away.
Turning to the other and more doubtful conflict,—that with the centaurs,
— we should find that it commenced with the significant scene (Fig. 181) once
in the north-east corner of the cclla. Here two women have fled to an idol.
One, fallen on her knees, and with one arm thrown around its stiff form, is
already seized by a lusting centaur, who tears the drapery from her beautiful
form. The other, as if in despair that even this holy spot is violated, throws out
her arms in distress, and seems halting between going and staying. But deliv-
erance is near at hand ; for the strong Theseus, having hung his skin on an
adjoining tree, already has the brute by the neck, and will, no doubt, rescue
them. Thus the Attic hero, the frightened women, and powerful centaur,
Fig. 187. A Part of Centaur Frieze from Interior of the Temple of Apollo at Bassai near Phigalela. British Museum.
introduced the conflicts taken from the story of the wedding of Peirithoos.
Close upon this scene there followed, in the middle of the frieze of the north
side (British Museum, No. 4), a group in which two tremendous, rearing cen-
taurs have well-nigh buried Caineus, who is vainly endeavoring, with his small
shield, to keep off the huge block they are dropping with crushing force upon
him. A Greek, however, makes one of these centaurs uncomfortable by
clutching his ear; and behind his protecting shield flies a richly draped
woman, her beautiful, fluttering garments well reflecting her anxious speed.
One after another, still other combats appear, in which the wild fury of these
semi-brutes is felt, even by children, who cling to the necks of frail women,
or half fall from their arms. How strongly the brute nature appears in that
group in which a centaur, over the fallen body of a fellow, kicks at an enemy's
shield behind, while he bites into the neck of a warrior who is stabbing him
in front! Throughout this frieze there is an intensity which is surprising;
THE AGE OF PHEIUIAS AND OF POLYCLEITOS.
of a fellow-warrior; having dropped his round shield, which an Amazon, eager
for the precious trophy, is slyly catching away.
Turning to the other and more doubtful conflict,—that with the centaurs,
— we should find that it commenced with the significant scene (Fig. 181) once
in the north-east corner of the cclla. Here two women have fled to an idol.
One, fallen on her knees, and with one arm thrown around its stiff form, is
already seized by a lusting centaur, who tears the drapery from her beautiful
form. The other, as if in despair that even this holy spot is violated, throws out
her arms in distress, and seems halting between going and staying. But deliv-
erance is near at hand ; for the strong Theseus, having hung his skin on an
adjoining tree, already has the brute by the neck, and will, no doubt, rescue
them. Thus the Attic hero, the frightened women, and powerful centaur,
Fig. 187. A Part of Centaur Frieze from Interior of the Temple of Apollo at Bassai near Phigalela. British Museum.
introduced the conflicts taken from the story of the wedding of Peirithoos.
Close upon this scene there followed, in the middle of the frieze of the north
side (British Museum, No. 4), a group in which two tremendous, rearing cen-
taurs have well-nigh buried Caineus, who is vainly endeavoring, with his small
shield, to keep off the huge block they are dropping with crushing force upon
him. A Greek, however, makes one of these centaurs uncomfortable by
clutching his ear; and behind his protecting shield flies a richly draped
woman, her beautiful, fluttering garments well reflecting her anxious speed.
One after another, still other combats appear, in which the wild fury of these
semi-brutes is felt, even by children, who cling to the necks of frail women,
or half fall from their arms. How strongly the brute nature appears in that
group in which a centaur, over the fallen body of a fellow, kicks at an enemy's
shield behind, while he bites into the neck of a warrior who is stabbing him
in front! Throughout this frieze there is an intensity which is surprising;