Perry, Walter Copland: Greek and Roman sculpture: a popular introduction to the history of Greek and Roman sculpture (London, 1882)

296

THE SCULPTURES OF THE PARTHENON.

knot (rvXrj,1 airclpa'1'). Both are dressed in the sleeveless chiton and
mantle, and the foremost seems to be delivering up the object (a
chair ?) on her head, while the other awaits her turn to do the same.

A warm controversy has arisen : I. respecting the character and
functions of these five figures ; II. on the question whether the girls
and boy are delivering up or receiving the seats and garment; and
III. on the nature of the cloth in the hands of the priest. According
to the majority of writers the two maidens are Arrephori ('App?;-
<popoi);3 the central figure (c) a Priestess of Athene; fig. a the

Fig. 118.

e d c a I,

the five central figures.

Archon Basileus ; and fig. b a consecrated servant boy, delivering up
the peplos* Michaelis calls the maidens Diphrophori (Si<ppo^opoi,
chair-bearers) ; the chief male figure he names, with some doubt,
however, the Treasurer ; the female figure, the Priestess of Athene
Polias ; and the boy a servant with the sacred pcplos/'

1 Aristoph. Ach. 86o, 954. taken to Athens to be employed in cmbioi-

* Apollodor. ii. 5. II. dering the peplos!—

3 Also called 'ZppyQopoi, 'Ep<m<p6poi ^ n„AAd8o5™Afl

(Aristoph. Lysisl. 642), maidens chosen by tit xoAAtttypov t* 'AAovafac lt>Kpoxia*twKm

the Archon to superintend the weaving of f*tf/°t"? yuan mAAout,

the peplos wcmm«« woutfAAoug MoK/toiatn injwtt.

1 In Eurip. Heatba, v. 465, the chorus of 5 Michael. Parthen. 255. Conf. Petersen,
captive women ask whether they shall be Kunst. d. Plieitlias, 303.