DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.69192#0251
I X79 1
into which the inhabitants of Tartarus seem to be
divided by Virgil.
The most impious are the rebel giants,
who, after their defeat, were cast down to Tar-
tarus, to receive the punifliment due to their
enormous crimes. The poets, in speaking of
these monsters, say, they had snakes instead of
legs. This is explained by the works of the ar-
tists, in which (as on a gem at Florence) they are
often represented going osf at the thighs into
two vast serpentse.
Virgil speaks of the vast variety of tortures in
Tartarus, but names very few. The punishments
are very uncommon too in the remains of the
artists. In a fine relievo at the Villa Borghese,
Tityosis lying on his back, and a vulture plung-
« These giants were not so easily conquered as might be ex-
pected, or some poets have described that affair as attended with
more difficulty than they ought. See Ovid. Met. V. v. 320.
where he says one of the Pierides raises the atchievements of the
giants, and extenuates the actions of the .gods. Fast. V. v. 37.
Lucr. ix. v. 656. Met. i. v. 184. See Macrob. Sat. 1. i. c. 20.
where they are supposed to be impious atheists.
Typhseus is distinguiflied by the poets .as one of the chief lead-
ers, Met. V. v. 326. Horace mentions him sirst in his account
os the battle, and names some more, Mimas, Porphyrion, Rhje-
cus, and Enceladus, 1. iii. od. 4. v. 61. Virgil adds, Casus and
Iapetus, Geo. i. v. 283. and TEgeon. ZEn. x. v. 568. with the
two sons of Aloeus, .ZEn. vi. v. 589. Ovid says Gyges and
Typhon were concerned in the affair—Fast. iv. v. 592. Fast. ii.
461.
ing
into which the inhabitants of Tartarus seem to be
divided by Virgil.
The most impious are the rebel giants,
who, after their defeat, were cast down to Tar-
tarus, to receive the punifliment due to their
enormous crimes. The poets, in speaking of
these monsters, say, they had snakes instead of
legs. This is explained by the works of the ar-
tists, in which (as on a gem at Florence) they are
often represented going osf at the thighs into
two vast serpentse.
Virgil speaks of the vast variety of tortures in
Tartarus, but names very few. The punishments
are very uncommon too in the remains of the
artists. In a fine relievo at the Villa Borghese,
Tityosis lying on his back, and a vulture plung-
« These giants were not so easily conquered as might be ex-
pected, or some poets have described that affair as attended with
more difficulty than they ought. See Ovid. Met. V. v. 320.
where he says one of the Pierides raises the atchievements of the
giants, and extenuates the actions of the .gods. Fast. V. v. 37.
Lucr. ix. v. 656. Met. i. v. 184. See Macrob. Sat. 1. i. c. 20.
where they are supposed to be impious atheists.
Typhseus is distinguiflied by the poets .as one of the chief lead-
ers, Met. V. v. 326. Horace mentions him sirst in his account
os the battle, and names some more, Mimas, Porphyrion, Rhje-
cus, and Enceladus, 1. iii. od. 4. v. 61. Virgil adds, Casus and
Iapetus, Geo. i. v. 283. and TEgeon. ZEn. x. v. 568. with the
two sons of Aloeus, .ZEn. vi. v. 589. Ovid says Gyges and
Typhon were concerned in the affair—Fast. iv. v. 592. Fast. ii.
461.
ing