DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18217#0158
144
CATALOGUE OF SCULPTURE.
SCULPTURE AND ARCHITECTURE
FROM PRIENE.
The Temple of Athene Polias at Priene is thus named
from the inscription of one of the antae (see below, p. 148)
stating that King Alexander dedicated the temple to
Athene Polias.
This inscription is probably to be dated in the summer
of 334 B.C. (Hicks, Greek Mist. Inscriptions, No. 124), but
by analogy with what is said to have taken place at
Ephesus (Strabo, xiv., 1. 22; cf. p. 165) the building
may have made considerable progress before the king
took part in the work, and, indeed, he only claims to
have made the dedication. The architect was Pythios
(Vitruvius, vii. Praef.), who was also the builder and
historian of the Mausoleum, and perhaps, too, the author
of the chariot group.
The temple was first examined by Chandler and the
Dilettanti Society's expedition of 1765, but no excavations
were attempted until 1869, when the same society sent
out an expedition under Mr. E. P. Pullan, who carried on
excavations between October, 1869, and April, 1870. The
transport of the marbles to England, which did not form
a part of Mr. Pullan's mission, was provided for by the
liberality of the late Mr. John Kuskin, and they were subse-
quently presented to the Trustees of the British Museum
by the Society of Dilettanti. Unfortunately, however,
little was brought except the sculptures, and several stones
that would be required for a complete reconstruction of the
Order are wanting in the Museum, although they were'
found in the course of the excavations.
The temple was of the Ionic order, with eleven columns
CATALOGUE OF SCULPTURE.
SCULPTURE AND ARCHITECTURE
FROM PRIENE.
The Temple of Athene Polias at Priene is thus named
from the inscription of one of the antae (see below, p. 148)
stating that King Alexander dedicated the temple to
Athene Polias.
This inscription is probably to be dated in the summer
of 334 B.C. (Hicks, Greek Mist. Inscriptions, No. 124), but
by analogy with what is said to have taken place at
Ephesus (Strabo, xiv., 1. 22; cf. p. 165) the building
may have made considerable progress before the king
took part in the work, and, indeed, he only claims to
have made the dedication. The architect was Pythios
(Vitruvius, vii. Praef.), who was also the builder and
historian of the Mausoleum, and perhaps, too, the author
of the chariot group.
The temple was first examined by Chandler and the
Dilettanti Society's expedition of 1765, but no excavations
were attempted until 1869, when the same society sent
out an expedition under Mr. E. P. Pullan, who carried on
excavations between October, 1869, and April, 1870. The
transport of the marbles to England, which did not form
a part of Mr. Pullan's mission, was provided for by the
liberality of the late Mr. John Kuskin, and they were subse-
quently presented to the Trustees of the British Museum
by the Society of Dilettanti. Unfortunately, however,
little was brought except the sculptures, and several stones
that would be required for a complete reconstruction of the
Order are wanting in the Museum, although they were'
found in the course of the excavations.
The temple was of the Ionic order, with eleven columns