Smith, Arthur H. [Editor]; British Museum <London> / Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities [Editor]: Catalogue of sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities (Band 2) (London, 1900)

263

SCULPTURE FROM SALAMIS (CYPRUS).

The architectural fragment described below was found
in the course of excavations carried on at the Cypriote
Salamis, in 1890, by Messrs. H. A. Tubbs and J. A. R.
Monro, on behalf of the Cyprus Exploration Fund, and
was presented by the Committee of that body.
l510- (Plate XXVII.) Sculptured capital. From the right
and left sides of a capital with a square abacus issue the
heads and foreparts of winged bulls. The heads are
inclined downwards. Wings issue from the shoulders,
which curl round in a manner that roughly suggests the
volutes of an Ionic capital. One of the two bulls is fairly
complete, except for the horns and ears. Of the other
little remains except part of one wing, and of the neck.
It has been restored with the adjoining part of the abacus
from the opposite side.

Between the two bulls is a female figure, wearing a
modius, and supporting the abacus on her modius and with
her hands. The figure wears a chiton girt at the waist.
Below the waist the folds of drapery are modified to take
the form of acanthus leaves. Two ends of drapery
hanging from the arms are similarlj' treated. In place
of legs are spiral stems, which also have acanthus leaves
issuing from them. Of the Caryatid at the opposite side
of the capital only slight traces remain.

The use of the forepart of a bull as an architectural
member is derived from theEast, and especially fromPersia.
Compare the columns of Persepolis (Perrot and Chipiez,
v-j p. 701), and Susa (Gaz. Arch., xii., pi. 27). In archaic
Greek sculpture it is found at Ephesus (vol. L, No. 48, 3 ;
of. Benndorf, Hereon, p. 67, fig. 46&), and in later art, at
Delos (Bull, de Corr. Hellenique, viii., pi. 17), and Xanthos
(cf. No. 053). With wings it occurs over the doorway