DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4423#0060
THE FIEST GIYEN PBOPOETIONS, 35
one complete monument of the Arts and Sciences, and of the Religion and History of the
Athenian people; but although containing such a variety of works, there was order and design
visible in every detail—one superior mind appearing to have planned and arranged the whole.
(i
it
The Statue of Minerva and the Beazen Chariot.
Besides innumerable statues and paintings, Pausanias describes, as near to the
Propylaea, two dedications from the tenth of military spoils. He says—
" One of these is in honour of the victory gained over the Medes at Marathon. It is
a brazen image of Minerva, by Phidias." " This statue is so placed that the crest of the
helmet and the point of the spear are seen in sailing from Sunium towards Athens.
" The other offering from the tenth of military spoils is a brazen chariot, dedicated
" after the victory of the Athenians over the Boeotians and Chalcidenses of Euboea."
The pedestal of the brazen statue of Minerva has been discovered, and is found to be
placed in a line with the centre of the east portico of the Propylaea, and about 120 feet in
front of it. The pedestal is 18*3 feet square, and presents an angular view to the spectator.
The statue, including the pedestal, must have been 70 feet in
height, both from the representations of it on coins and from the
description of it by Pausanias, the whole height would have been
perfectly seen from the east portico of the Propylaea. When further
explorations are made, we may hope to find some traces of the site
of the brazen chariot (with the four horses) a little to the north of the
statue of Minerva.
These two works were the first of real importance seen imme-
diately upon entering within the enclosure of the Acropolis, and they
were so placed by Phidias as clearly to indicate the fine of road to be taken either to the
Parthenon or to the Erechtheium—they formed, as it were, the inner gateways to the artificial
enclosures of these two Temples.
The Parthenon.
The road first taken by Pausanias was the one leading direct to the east portico of
the Parthenon; it is slightly worked out of the rock, and on the right hand near the Propylaea
are the remains of votive altars and other works of Art; and he informs us that there were
several sanctuaries and important statues on the south side of this road.
Arrived at the base of the colossal statue of Minerva, we enter within the limits of the
Parthenon enclosure, and the first uninterrupted angular view of the Parthenon is presented
one complete monument of the Arts and Sciences, and of the Religion and History of the
Athenian people; but although containing such a variety of works, there was order and design
visible in every detail—one superior mind appearing to have planned and arranged the whole.
(i
it
The Statue of Minerva and the Beazen Chariot.
Besides innumerable statues and paintings, Pausanias describes, as near to the
Propylaea, two dedications from the tenth of military spoils. He says—
" One of these is in honour of the victory gained over the Medes at Marathon. It is
a brazen image of Minerva, by Phidias." " This statue is so placed that the crest of the
helmet and the point of the spear are seen in sailing from Sunium towards Athens.
" The other offering from the tenth of military spoils is a brazen chariot, dedicated
" after the victory of the Athenians over the Boeotians and Chalcidenses of Euboea."
The pedestal of the brazen statue of Minerva has been discovered, and is found to be
placed in a line with the centre of the east portico of the Propylaea, and about 120 feet in
front of it. The pedestal is 18*3 feet square, and presents an angular view to the spectator.
The statue, including the pedestal, must have been 70 feet in
height, both from the representations of it on coins and from the
description of it by Pausanias, the whole height would have been
perfectly seen from the east portico of the Propylaea. When further
explorations are made, we may hope to find some traces of the site
of the brazen chariot (with the four horses) a little to the north of the
statue of Minerva.
These two works were the first of real importance seen imme-
diately upon entering within the enclosure of the Acropolis, and they
were so placed by Phidias as clearly to indicate the fine of road to be taken either to the
Parthenon or to the Erechtheium—they formed, as it were, the inner gateways to the artificial
enclosures of these two Temples.
The Parthenon.
The road first taken by Pausanias was the one leading direct to the east portico of
the Parthenon; it is slightly worked out of the rock, and on the right hand near the Propylaea
are the remains of votive altars and other works of Art; and he informs us that there were
several sanctuaries and important statues on the south side of this road.
Arrived at the base of the colossal statue of Minerva, we enter within the limits of the
Parthenon enclosure, and the first uninterrupted angular view of the Parthenon is presented