DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8577#0108
88 NATURAL HISTORY
similar to this, but was partly drawn in reserve (see p. 192). The gorgons of
the Francois vase are those of the late Corinthian style (cf. fig. 27 e), differing
only in that they have snakes in their hair and in that they are drawn entirely in
silhouette. Henceforward the gorgon is a favourite subject with Attic black-
figure painters, but the proportions of the face and body show little variation.
An altogether different type of gorgon seems to have been in vogue in Ionia
during the early archaic period, and one which is only vaguely connected with
that of the mainland. It is impossible to discuss this here at length, but in
order to establish the contrast to which I have alluded I will give a list of the
early Ionian and island examples.1
(1) Electrum coins, of uncertain East Greek origin: B.M.C. Ionia pi. 11,14;
Regling, Miinzen als Kunstwerk pi. 1,6.
(2) Gem: British Museum 231 (Walters pi. 5). Cf. Furtwangler, Gemmen
P1- 5> 31-
(3,4) Melian vases: Conze, Melische Thongefasse pi. 3 and an unpub-
lished amphora in Mykonos (shield device).
(5, 6) Ivory seals from the Argive Heraeum: A.H. ii, 351, nos. 4, 5a.
(7) Ivory seal from Sparta, Eph. Arch. 1914, 27 fig. 17; Blinkenberg,
Fibules 277, fig. 317 (sphinx with gorgon's head: cf. our fig. 12).
These three seals may be Ionian.
(8) Rhodian plate, Buschor2 80 fig. 60.
The majority of the above, though anything but a homogeneous series,
have certain points in common, and with the exception of no. 7, which is
obviously Corinthianizing, they stand in marked contrast with the Corin-
thian and Attic types.2 In the sixth century the number of Ionian examples
increases—there are vases, plastic vases, bronzes, gems and coins with gor-
gons and gorgoneia, but relatively few of these belong to an early period.3
The majority are works of the second half of the century, and are clearly
under the influence of the mainland type.
The poverty and scarcity of the early Ionian material therefore make
it quite certain that though the original stimulus from the Orient may
or may not have come through Ionia, Ionian artists did nothing towards the
development or the popularization of the archaic gorgon type. The principal
1 I do not say that the following are all gorgons or 3 The plastic vases of the 'gorgon-group' (Maxi-
gorgoneia in the strict sense, but they are obviously mova pi. 25, no. 98 and p. 163) are certainly early
equivalents. —they may belong to the late seventh century; the
2 Note, in nos. 5 and 8, the long chiton which foot-vase with a gorgoneion on the handle Maxi-
Furtwangler shows to be an Ionian characteristic, mova pi. 26,99 is later. This gorgoneion might have
and in all but nos. 7 and 8 the weak stylization of the been copied directly from that of the Corinthian
face, with small mouth and comparatively little dis- crater no. 1452, fig. 27 c (better, Albizzati p. 46 fig.
tortion of the features. The different areas of the 14). Sixth-century vases, &c.: Tanis ii, pi. 26, 4;
face are never worked out into a pattern, as on the Pfuhl fig. 147; J.H.S. pi. 31; Masner 136 pi. 3
mainland. (Clazomenian, not Corinthian).
similar to this, but was partly drawn in reserve (see p. 192). The gorgons of
the Francois vase are those of the late Corinthian style (cf. fig. 27 e), differing
only in that they have snakes in their hair and in that they are drawn entirely in
silhouette. Henceforward the gorgon is a favourite subject with Attic black-
figure painters, but the proportions of the face and body show little variation.
An altogether different type of gorgon seems to have been in vogue in Ionia
during the early archaic period, and one which is only vaguely connected with
that of the mainland. It is impossible to discuss this here at length, but in
order to establish the contrast to which I have alluded I will give a list of the
early Ionian and island examples.1
(1) Electrum coins, of uncertain East Greek origin: B.M.C. Ionia pi. 11,14;
Regling, Miinzen als Kunstwerk pi. 1,6.
(2) Gem: British Museum 231 (Walters pi. 5). Cf. Furtwangler, Gemmen
P1- 5> 31-
(3,4) Melian vases: Conze, Melische Thongefasse pi. 3 and an unpub-
lished amphora in Mykonos (shield device).
(5, 6) Ivory seals from the Argive Heraeum: A.H. ii, 351, nos. 4, 5a.
(7) Ivory seal from Sparta, Eph. Arch. 1914, 27 fig. 17; Blinkenberg,
Fibules 277, fig. 317 (sphinx with gorgon's head: cf. our fig. 12).
These three seals may be Ionian.
(8) Rhodian plate, Buschor2 80 fig. 60.
The majority of the above, though anything but a homogeneous series,
have certain points in common, and with the exception of no. 7, which is
obviously Corinthianizing, they stand in marked contrast with the Corin-
thian and Attic types.2 In the sixth century the number of Ionian examples
increases—there are vases, plastic vases, bronzes, gems and coins with gor-
gons and gorgoneia, but relatively few of these belong to an early period.3
The majority are works of the second half of the century, and are clearly
under the influence of the mainland type.
The poverty and scarcity of the early Ionian material therefore make
it quite certain that though the original stimulus from the Orient may
or may not have come through Ionia, Ionian artists did nothing towards the
development or the popularization of the archaic gorgon type. The principal
1 I do not say that the following are all gorgons or 3 The plastic vases of the 'gorgon-group' (Maxi-
gorgoneia in the strict sense, but they are obviously mova pi. 25, no. 98 and p. 163) are certainly early
equivalents. —they may belong to the late seventh century; the
2 Note, in nos. 5 and 8, the long chiton which foot-vase with a gorgoneion on the handle Maxi-
Furtwangler shows to be an Ionian characteristic, mova pi. 26,99 is later. This gorgoneion might have
and in all but nos. 7 and 8 the weak stylization of the been copied directly from that of the Corinthian
face, with small mouth and comparatively little dis- crater no. 1452, fig. 27 c (better, Albizzati p. 46 fig.
tortion of the features. The different areas of the 14). Sixth-century vases, &c.: Tanis ii, pi. 26, 4;
face are never worked out into a pattern, as on the Pfuhl fig. 147; J.H.S. pi. 31; Masner 136 pi. 3
mainland. (Clazomenian, not Corinthian).