DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18216#0133
WEST PEDIMENT OF PARTHENON.
119
the north-west angle of the pediment, after taking down
a Turkish house built against the columns. The lower
part of a female figure Q may also have been found on
this spot.
After the Acropolis passed into the possession of the
Greek government, the ground round the Parthenon was
partly cleared of its ruins, and this led to the discovery,
in 1835, of the crouching male figure V and of many
fragments, among which are remains of the horses lowered
by Morosini. The sculptures removed by Lord Elgin
are exhibited in combination with casts of the remains
now at Athens. The description that follows begins from
the left or northern angle of the pediment.
304 A. Ilissos or Kephissos.— This figure, reclining in the angle
of the pediment, is universally admitted to be a Kiver-god,
(cf.the description by Pausanias (v., 10,7) of the pediment of
the temple of Zeus at Olympia). The figure is popularly
known as the Ilissos, but it may represent the Athenian
Kephissos. According to Brunn's topographical scheme,
it is a less familiar Kephissos, near Eleusis. This figure
appears not to have suffered much since Carrey drew it.
It was still in the pediment in Stuart's time, but had
been thrown down at the date of Lord Elgin's mission.
The body, half reclined, rests on the left arm, over which
is the end of an himation, which falls behind the back
in undulating lines, and is drawn up to the right knee.
As the head and most of the right arm are wanting, their
action must be a matter of conjecture ; the general motion
of the figure seems to indicate the moment of sudden
transition from repose to action, and would be consistent
with the supposition that the head was turned towards
the central group, watching the momentous issue of the
contest, and that the Eiver-god was in the act of rising.
In that case his right hand may have been drawing
forward the end of his himation over his right knee
119
the north-west angle of the pediment, after taking down
a Turkish house built against the columns. The lower
part of a female figure Q may also have been found on
this spot.
After the Acropolis passed into the possession of the
Greek government, the ground round the Parthenon was
partly cleared of its ruins, and this led to the discovery,
in 1835, of the crouching male figure V and of many
fragments, among which are remains of the horses lowered
by Morosini. The sculptures removed by Lord Elgin
are exhibited in combination with casts of the remains
now at Athens. The description that follows begins from
the left or northern angle of the pediment.
304 A. Ilissos or Kephissos.— This figure, reclining in the angle
of the pediment, is universally admitted to be a Kiver-god,
(cf.the description by Pausanias (v., 10,7) of the pediment of
the temple of Zeus at Olympia). The figure is popularly
known as the Ilissos, but it may represent the Athenian
Kephissos. According to Brunn's topographical scheme,
it is a less familiar Kephissos, near Eleusis. This figure
appears not to have suffered much since Carrey drew it.
It was still in the pediment in Stuart's time, but had
been thrown down at the date of Lord Elgin's mission.
The body, half reclined, rests on the left arm, over which
is the end of an himation, which falls behind the back
in undulating lines, and is drawn up to the right knee.
As the head and most of the right arm are wanting, their
action must be a matter of conjecture ; the general motion
of the figure seems to indicate the moment of sudden
transition from repose to action, and would be consistent
with the supposition that the head was turned towards
the central group, watching the momentous issue of the
contest, and that the Eiver-god was in the act of rising.
In that case his right hand may have been drawing
forward the end of his himation over his right knee