DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5253#0607
MONUMENTS OF ATTALOS I. 57l
forms us, was precipitated, in a great storm, from the lofty Athenian Acropo-
lis into the theatre below; but the fate of the remainder is recorded by no
ancient writer. This fact, that wind could take one of these figures from its
place, goes, as has been admirably suggested by Milchhofer, to prove that
Attalos' gift consisted of statues in bronze, and not in marble, which material
would with difficulty be torn by the wind from its stony pedestal : "3s on the
other hand, it would be comparatively easy for a small, lightly cast bronze
figure to become detached, by some terrible gust, from its basis, and precipi-
tated from the height. The rough mass of the long, narrow pedestal was dis-
covered a few years since by Botticher, on the Acropolis ; but no statues were
ever found in any part of Athens, — a fact readily accounted for, if they were
in bronze, which has always excited the cupidity of man. "39
Several small statues, however, of Asia-Minor marble, detected by the keen
eye of Brunn in different museums, so nearly correspond in size and subject to
these gifts of Attalos, described by Pausanias, that they may with certainty be
considered as their copies."-*0 Of these small statues, ten are now known to us;
namely, three in Venice, four in Naples, and one in each of the collections, the
Louvre, the Vatican, and the museum of Aix. Nine of these admirable statues
may be traced to their discovery, early in the sixteenth century, in the neighbor-
hood of the baths of Alexander Severus in Rome; proving that they are not, as
was conjectured by some, on account of their realistic character, the work of the
contemporaries of Michel Angelo. Among them are representatives of each of
the four groups mentioned by Pausanias; there being in the number a giant,
an Amazon, two Persians, and three Galatians, these latter strikingly akin to
the Dying Galatian of the Capitol and to the Ludovisi warrior. These Galatians
all have the irregular features, the bristling stiff hair, and peculiar frame, corre-
sponding to the description of Attalos' enemies from the North, while some wear
the torque. One, in much the same position as the Dying Galatian of the Capi-
tol, seems, like him, lying in the agony of death ; and another, falling backward,
is trying to defend himself. Of the giants, those foes of the gods, and mythic
prototypes of the Galatians, one is preserved, tremendous even in his fall, but
more ideal in shape than Attalos' barbarian foes, although fully human in form
and having very shaggy hair. Judging from the peculiar soft head-dress and
trousers, two of these figures are the Persians referred to by Pausanius; and one
of them shows most admirably (Fig- 234) the sculptor's power in composition.
But more touching than all the rest, although equally strong, is an Amazon
who lies stretched in death, her arm falling above her head That these little
statues, in Asia-Minor marble, were, moreover, copied from bronze, appears also
from the smooth surface and sharp chiselling of folds and hair, as well as from
the smallncss of their size for figures in marble. All the warriors represented
are from the conquered side, and only have their full force by imagining the
forms of the victorious enemy with whom they must be conceived face to face.
forms us, was precipitated, in a great storm, from the lofty Athenian Acropo-
lis into the theatre below; but the fate of the remainder is recorded by no
ancient writer. This fact, that wind could take one of these figures from its
place, goes, as has been admirably suggested by Milchhofer, to prove that
Attalos' gift consisted of statues in bronze, and not in marble, which material
would with difficulty be torn by the wind from its stony pedestal : "3s on the
other hand, it would be comparatively easy for a small, lightly cast bronze
figure to become detached, by some terrible gust, from its basis, and precipi-
tated from the height. The rough mass of the long, narrow pedestal was dis-
covered a few years since by Botticher, on the Acropolis ; but no statues were
ever found in any part of Athens, — a fact readily accounted for, if they were
in bronze, which has always excited the cupidity of man. "39
Several small statues, however, of Asia-Minor marble, detected by the keen
eye of Brunn in different museums, so nearly correspond in size and subject to
these gifts of Attalos, described by Pausanias, that they may with certainty be
considered as their copies."-*0 Of these small statues, ten are now known to us;
namely, three in Venice, four in Naples, and one in each of the collections, the
Louvre, the Vatican, and the museum of Aix. Nine of these admirable statues
may be traced to their discovery, early in the sixteenth century, in the neighbor-
hood of the baths of Alexander Severus in Rome; proving that they are not, as
was conjectured by some, on account of their realistic character, the work of the
contemporaries of Michel Angelo. Among them are representatives of each of
the four groups mentioned by Pausanias; there being in the number a giant,
an Amazon, two Persians, and three Galatians, these latter strikingly akin to
the Dying Galatian of the Capitol and to the Ludovisi warrior. These Galatians
all have the irregular features, the bristling stiff hair, and peculiar frame, corre-
sponding to the description of Attalos' enemies from the North, while some wear
the torque. One, in much the same position as the Dying Galatian of the Capi-
tol, seems, like him, lying in the agony of death ; and another, falling backward,
is trying to defend himself. Of the giants, those foes of the gods, and mythic
prototypes of the Galatians, one is preserved, tremendous even in his fall, but
more ideal in shape than Attalos' barbarian foes, although fully human in form
and having very shaggy hair. Judging from the peculiar soft head-dress and
trousers, two of these figures are the Persians referred to by Pausanius; and one
of them shows most admirably (Fig- 234) the sculptor's power in composition.
But more touching than all the rest, although equally strong, is an Amazon
who lies stretched in death, her arm falling above her head That these little
statues, in Asia-Minor marble, were, moreover, copied from bronze, appears also
from the smooth surface and sharp chiselling of folds and hair, as well as from
the smallncss of their size for figures in marble. All the warriors represented
are from the conquered side, and only have their full force by imagining the
forms of the victorious enemy with whom they must be conceived face to face.