DOI chapter:
The mythology of Athenian local cults
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61302#0044
xxxii
MYTHOLOGY AND MONUMENTS
to either side is a bearded guardian snake, the δίσσε
δράκοντε of Euripides. As to the snakes, the story has
unimportant variations; sometimes the child is turned into
a snake, sometimes is half snake, half human. If the
well-known Brygos cylix (Klein, Meistersignaturen, Brygos i)
refers to this myth, the two sisters on that vase are pursued
by one huge snake; sometimes, as here, by two. The vase is
so late that it is possible the artist may have decided to
ensure accuracy by copying Euripides. Athene stands to the
left gazing at the mischief done ·, two figures escape on the
opposite side of the vase. The roughness and carelessness
of the work is clearly shown by the fact that the two figures
FIG. 4.—AMPHORA: ERICHTHONIOS IN THE CHEST (BRITISH museum).
are drawn male, not female, wearing the himation only-
being, in fact, mere “mantle figures.” The artist seems
to be copying some more careful original he has only half
understood.
This vase-painting brings us no nearer to any explanation
of the myth. It was natural enough that a story should be
invented to show that the eponymous king was earth-born,
and to prove that he was at once son of Earth and fosterling
of the goddess Athene. So far so good, but the sequel bears
upon it the impress of elaborate aetiology. In the natural
course of things, Athene would have taken the new-born child
and herself reared him from that time forth in her own
temenos. What more could tradition desire? Instead, we
MYTHOLOGY AND MONUMENTS
to either side is a bearded guardian snake, the δίσσε
δράκοντε of Euripides. As to the snakes, the story has
unimportant variations; sometimes the child is turned into
a snake, sometimes is half snake, half human. If the
well-known Brygos cylix (Klein, Meistersignaturen, Brygos i)
refers to this myth, the two sisters on that vase are pursued
by one huge snake; sometimes, as here, by two. The vase is
so late that it is possible the artist may have decided to
ensure accuracy by copying Euripides. Athene stands to the
left gazing at the mischief done ·, two figures escape on the
opposite side of the vase. The roughness and carelessness
of the work is clearly shown by the fact that the two figures
FIG. 4.—AMPHORA: ERICHTHONIOS IN THE CHEST (BRITISH museum).
are drawn male, not female, wearing the himation only-
being, in fact, mere “mantle figures.” The artist seems
to be copying some more careful original he has only half
understood.
This vase-painting brings us no nearer to any explanation
of the myth. It was natural enough that a story should be
invented to show that the eponymous king was earth-born,
and to prove that he was at once son of Earth and fosterling
of the goddess Athene. So far so good, but the sequel bears
upon it the impress of elaborate aetiology. In the natural
course of things, Athene would have taken the new-born child
and herself reared him from that time forth in her own
temenos. What more could tradition desire? Instead, we