DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18217#0025
THE FIRST FRIEZE.
11
extant slabs, five slabs besides the corner stone are probably
wanted to complete the frieze. The height of the frieze
is 3 feet 4 inches. It is impossible to determine the
original arrangement of the slabs, since each slab has a
complete composition in nearly every case, and in no
instance is a figure carried on to the next slab as on the
Parthenon frieze. A plan is preserved in the British
Museum, showing the positions of the stones as found,
but they were so completely displaced and fallen down the
slope, that this is of no service, even if trustworthy (but
cf. Annali dell' Inst., 1875, p. 70). In arranging the Nereid
Room, the slabs forming the restored end of the base are
grouped together, as making up a suitable composition of
the necessary length. The remainder are arranged in
part as seemed to suit the subjects, and in part according
to the exigencies of space.
On this frieze, which represents a series of combats,
the combatants may, for the most part, be assigned to one
of the following classes :—
1. Hoplites, figures wearing a chiton and chlamys, and
armed with a crested helmet, cuirass with flaps, and large
round shield.
2. Lighter-armed figures, called for convenience Peltasts,
similar to the hoplites, but without cuirass.
3. Nude Greeks, with helmet and shield and a small
chlamys. These figures presumably are composed accord-
ing to the conventional heroic type. It is unlikely that
any combatants of historical times went nude into battle.
On the other hand, there is nothing except the nudity of
the figures to suggest a mythological subject.
4. Barbarians, with Persian, bonnet, long close-fitting
tunic, mantle and trousers.
5. Horsemen, variously equipped.
It will be seen that hoplites are opposed to hoplites
11
extant slabs, five slabs besides the corner stone are probably
wanted to complete the frieze. The height of the frieze
is 3 feet 4 inches. It is impossible to determine the
original arrangement of the slabs, since each slab has a
complete composition in nearly every case, and in no
instance is a figure carried on to the next slab as on the
Parthenon frieze. A plan is preserved in the British
Museum, showing the positions of the stones as found,
but they were so completely displaced and fallen down the
slope, that this is of no service, even if trustworthy (but
cf. Annali dell' Inst., 1875, p. 70). In arranging the Nereid
Room, the slabs forming the restored end of the base are
grouped together, as making up a suitable composition of
the necessary length. The remainder are arranged in
part as seemed to suit the subjects, and in part according
to the exigencies of space.
On this frieze, which represents a series of combats,
the combatants may, for the most part, be assigned to one
of the following classes :—
1. Hoplites, figures wearing a chiton and chlamys, and
armed with a crested helmet, cuirass with flaps, and large
round shield.
2. Lighter-armed figures, called for convenience Peltasts,
similar to the hoplites, but without cuirass.
3. Nude Greeks, with helmet and shield and a small
chlamys. These figures presumably are composed accord-
ing to the conventional heroic type. It is unlikely that
any combatants of historical times went nude into battle.
On the other hand, there is nothing except the nudity of
the figures to suggest a mythological subject.
4. Barbarians, with Persian, bonnet, long close-fitting
tunic, mantle and trousers.
5. Horsemen, variously equipped.
It will be seen that hoplites are opposed to hoplites