DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18218#0275
RELIEF OF NIOBIDS.
261
below, that the hands were clasped together at the back
of the neck. The head and arms are now wanting.
(7) Of the figure on the right of this row, nothing
remains except a right hand grasping the rock near the
left foot of Apollo.
In the third tier the figures are (8) Youth, who kneels
on the right knee, with the left leg extended. The head
is thrown back, the right hand clasps the back of the
head, while the left arm rests on the thigh. (9, 10) Two
daughters of Niobe, both dead, and lying at full length.
One lies on her back, and the other on her face. They
are both fully draped. (11) This figure, which is near
the centre of the whole composition, may be that of Niobe
herself. The only parts that remain of the figure are the
himation, which she holds up above her head, and the
right foot, which was extended. These parts agree fairly
well with the statue of Niobe at Florence. On the other
hand, the scale of the figure would be somewhat small.
There seem to be traces of a child's foot on the rock before
her. (12) Of this figure nothing remains except the right
leg from the knee, and some drapery. From the replica
mentioned below, it appears that the complete figure was
that of a girl fallen on her knees, with the head thrown
back, the right arm raised, and the left hand pressed
against the right breast. (13) This figure is preserved
from the waist downwards, and is that of a girl moving
to the right, and wearing a long chiton. (14) Of this
figure, which is the last of the row, nothing remains
except the foot and a fold of the drapery. The figure
appears to have been that of a girl standing to the front.
(15) The first group in the lowest row is that of the
bearded figure, known as the paedagogue, and a child.
The paedagogue stands to the front with the light arm
raised and looking to his left. With his left hand he
clasps the right hand of the child, lie wears a short chiton
261
below, that the hands were clasped together at the back
of the neck. The head and arms are now wanting.
(7) Of the figure on the right of this row, nothing
remains except a right hand grasping the rock near the
left foot of Apollo.
In the third tier the figures are (8) Youth, who kneels
on the right knee, with the left leg extended. The head
is thrown back, the right hand clasps the back of the
head, while the left arm rests on the thigh. (9, 10) Two
daughters of Niobe, both dead, and lying at full length.
One lies on her back, and the other on her face. They
are both fully draped. (11) This figure, which is near
the centre of the whole composition, may be that of Niobe
herself. The only parts that remain of the figure are the
himation, which she holds up above her head, and the
right foot, which was extended. These parts agree fairly
well with the statue of Niobe at Florence. On the other
hand, the scale of the figure would be somewhat small.
There seem to be traces of a child's foot on the rock before
her. (12) Of this figure nothing remains except the right
leg from the knee, and some drapery. From the replica
mentioned below, it appears that the complete figure was
that of a girl fallen on her knees, with the head thrown
back, the right arm raised, and the left hand pressed
against the right breast. (13) This figure is preserved
from the waist downwards, and is that of a girl moving
to the right, and wearing a long chiton. (14) Of this
figure, which is the last of the row, nothing remains
except the foot and a fold of the drapery. The figure
appears to have been that of a girl standing to the front.
(15) The first group in the lowest row is that of the
bearded figure, known as the paedagogue, and a child.
The paedagogue stands to the front with the light arm
raised and looking to his left. With his left hand he
clasps the right hand of the child, lie wears a short chiton