DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18216#0071
XANTHOS. HARPY TOMB.
57
In the left hand he holds a pomegranate fruit, and in the
right hand an apple. Before him stands a male (?) figure,
holding a dove in the left hand by the wings, and having
the right hand raised in a gesture of adoration. On each
side of the main group, hut disconnected from it, are the
winged figures with their hurdens as already described.
With certain differences of detail, chiefly in the positions
of the arms of the figures carried, these groups are nearly
similar to those of the north side.
Drapery, &c.—All the figures on this tomb, except the
" Harpies," the diminutive figures connected with them,
and the warrior, are draped in chiton, and himation or
peplos. The figures borne by the " Harpies " and the figure
crouching in grief wear long chitons only. The " Harpies "
wear chitons, of which the sleeves alone are indicated. All
the principal figures wear shoes or sandals, so far as the
feet are preserved, with the exception of the second figure
behind the throne on the east sdde. The women on the
west side, and the seated figure on the south side wear shoes,
with pointed toes. The remaining figures wear sandals
only. All the figures on the east side had metal taeniae
or stephanae, the holes for the attachment of the metal
being still visible. The youth on the east side, as already
stated, held a metal object in his hand.
Colouring.—The following indications of colour can be
traced. The ground of the reliefs was bright blue. Part
of the colour remains round the profile of the youth on the
east side, and under the right wrist of the first figure behind
the throne on this side. Birch (Archeeologia, xxx., p. 192)
states that he has seen scarlet on the crest of the helmet,
and Scharf (Mus. of Class. Antiq., i., p. 252) that there
were " traces of red in the hollow of the shields and upon
sandals." Elsewhere the colour must be inferred from
the inequalities of the surface of the marble, due to the
unequal protecting powers of the different colours. There
57
In the left hand he holds a pomegranate fruit, and in the
right hand an apple. Before him stands a male (?) figure,
holding a dove in the left hand by the wings, and having
the right hand raised in a gesture of adoration. On each
side of the main group, hut disconnected from it, are the
winged figures with their hurdens as already described.
With certain differences of detail, chiefly in the positions
of the arms of the figures carried, these groups are nearly
similar to those of the north side.
Drapery, &c.—All the figures on this tomb, except the
" Harpies," the diminutive figures connected with them,
and the warrior, are draped in chiton, and himation or
peplos. The figures borne by the " Harpies " and the figure
crouching in grief wear long chitons only. The " Harpies "
wear chitons, of which the sleeves alone are indicated. All
the principal figures wear shoes or sandals, so far as the
feet are preserved, with the exception of the second figure
behind the throne on the east sdde. The women on the
west side, and the seated figure on the south side wear shoes,
with pointed toes. The remaining figures wear sandals
only. All the figures on the east side had metal taeniae
or stephanae, the holes for the attachment of the metal
being still visible. The youth on the east side, as already
stated, held a metal object in his hand.
Colouring.—The following indications of colour can be
traced. The ground of the reliefs was bright blue. Part
of the colour remains round the profile of the youth on the
east side, and under the right wrist of the first figure behind
the throne on this side. Birch (Archeeologia, xxx., p. 192)
states that he has seen scarlet on the crest of the helmet,
and Scharf (Mus. of Class. Antiq., i., p. 252) that there
were " traces of red in the hollow of the shields and upon
sandals." Elsewhere the colour must be inferred from
the inequalities of the surface of the marble, due to the
unequal protecting powers of the different colours. There