DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4266#0062
DESCRIPTION OF VIGNETTES. 29
It appears that in all the MSS. the passage is written with the word poculis, which has been generally
translated, not without some unfounded distaste, as "little vases" 3; and in the recent and superior edi-
tion of this author, by Schneider, he has altered, but with manifest mistrust, on a conjectural amendment
kaumaise, the word poculis in the text, tojoculis", (play things,) a term so applied of disputable
occurrence in Roman authors. However, in contemplating this pleasing example combining the plastic
with the fictile art, and so appropriate to the taste and toilet of an accomplished female, we are more
inclined to consider that the marriageable Corinthian virgin, would in the opinion of an ancient architect,
have delighted in the possession of such ornamental vases at a city where the manufacture of
decorative fictiliawas in equal repute with'that of Athens, each having had ascribed to it the invention
of the potter's wheel. Athenaeus, with others, speaks of Thericles, a renowned Corinthian potter, and
we learn from them, that the possession of cups and vases was anciently extravagantly coveted0; they were
held sacred when devoted to sepulchral purposes, and it would have been sacrilegious to remove them
when so dedicated. These productions were profusely deposited within the Corinthian tombs, which in
after ages are recorded to have been rifled by the Romans, for their bronze and fictile treasures u.
Finding, therefore, such terracotta objects of taste to have been so usually employed and
disposed of at Corinth, in the funeral ceremonial, we would certainly therefore, for our part, not
desire to disturb the original reading of " poculis," in the interesting, but perhaps fictional tradition
given currency to by Vitruvius, regarding manners and antiquities, with which very many modern
distinguished philologists appear to be little acquainted.
This Vase is now in the possession of Lord Viscount Strangford, lately our ambassador in
Turkey; but the right arm of the figure, since the author delineated it at Athens, has been lost.
The Vignette at the end of the description of these Plates, represents three ancient bronze
-Helmets, found recently in Greece, and remarkable for remote antiquity and preservation. They were
collected at Patrasc, and lately in the possession of John Cartwright, Esq. his Britannic Majesty's
Consul-general at Constantinople, where he kindly permitted the author to draw them. Their weight
and dimensions are specified on the Plate.
The Helmet in the centre, nearly resembling those on the early coins of Corinthf, is distin-
b s led in being inscribed on the left side, with some very archaic Grecian characters, seen delineated
the border on the Plate, of the real size, as we copied them. They have been interpreted to repre-
, in more modern letters, ZHNOS OATNniOYh, perhaps shewing the casque to have been a votive
trophy on some occasion dedicated ■ at the temple " of Olympian Jupiter," which is probably confirmed
y having been found in the river Alpheus, which occasionally overflows that scene of domestic
recian glory, the renowned plain of 01ympiak, undermining by its waters many remaining founda-
\B.arbaro. translated the passage by " tutti quel Vasi, dei d Strabo, Lib. VIII. p. 381. Dodwell's Travels in Greece,
Vivand V"T^ Vivendo si dilettava." Galiani renders it " delle V. II. p. 200.
O >k ' . CtUa*s') apparently influenced by the record of the e The Consul at Patras, subsequently became possessed of
gic poets, that libatory offerings (Inferiaj) of milk, ho- an antique Helmet, in a very mutilated state, nearly similar in
„ I'm ' ?' T,6re Poured out at Grecian tombs. Orsini has it form to the central one of those here represented.
letazze e gh alberelli;" and Perrauk ^ „ tUs FaKS„ Mr.
Gwilt has used an indefinite term in his translation, by rendering
it those articles to which she had shewn a partiality when alive."
Vitruv. del Barbaro, 1629, p. l64. Vitruv. del M. Galiani,
««poU, 1758. Trad, da Orsini, in Penigia, 1802, V. I. p. 155.
rad de Perrault, p. 108. Trans, by J. Gwilt, 1826, p. 102.
u V,truvius Schneideri, 1807, L. IV. C. I. Comment. Vol.
on thl • Salmasii Exercit' Plin- Saumaise having insisted
pretati Sl"gular word> would have us also adoPt his own inter-
im the°^ of n by ' jocalia,' jewellery, which would present, view-
He 1 C°ntext' as much difficulty as the terms previously <nven.
... Ves " Virginis illius Corinthiae jocula fuere, ut par est
TZ; anmiH' et alia id genus nuga," P. 790.
Athene, ed. Sehweigh. L. XI. C. IV. p. 210.
VOL. IV.
f V. Stuart's Athens, first edit. Vol. III. p. 41; or our new
edition, PL XXXV. Fig. 8. p. 116.
8 See Rose, Ins. Ant. Graec. p. 58. Boeckh-;, Corp. Ins. Grsec.
Vol. I. p. 48.
h The central cuneus of the Theatre at Syracuse, was named
that of Jupiter Olympius, as evident by one of the superscriptions
still existing, engraved in this more modern orthography, Aios
OATMniOT. See Desc. of the Theatre at Syracuse in a subse-
quent part of this volume, PI. V. p. 51.
1 An antique Greek has relief in the Museum Clementinum,
represents a warrior, completely armed, offering a helmet to
Apollo, whose statue is seen on a pedestal. This is described by
Visconti as Menelaus consecrating a helmet the spoil of Euphor-
bus, at the altar of Apollo. Mus. Pio Clem. Vol. V. PI. 23.
k Stanhope's Olympia, p. 14.
H
It appears that in all the MSS. the passage is written with the word poculis, which has been generally
translated, not without some unfounded distaste, as "little vases" 3; and in the recent and superior edi-
tion of this author, by Schneider, he has altered, but with manifest mistrust, on a conjectural amendment
kaumaise, the word poculis in the text, tojoculis", (play things,) a term so applied of disputable
occurrence in Roman authors. However, in contemplating this pleasing example combining the plastic
with the fictile art, and so appropriate to the taste and toilet of an accomplished female, we are more
inclined to consider that the marriageable Corinthian virgin, would in the opinion of an ancient architect,
have delighted in the possession of such ornamental vases at a city where the manufacture of
decorative fictiliawas in equal repute with'that of Athens, each having had ascribed to it the invention
of the potter's wheel. Athenaeus, with others, speaks of Thericles, a renowned Corinthian potter, and
we learn from them, that the possession of cups and vases was anciently extravagantly coveted0; they were
held sacred when devoted to sepulchral purposes, and it would have been sacrilegious to remove them
when so dedicated. These productions were profusely deposited within the Corinthian tombs, which in
after ages are recorded to have been rifled by the Romans, for their bronze and fictile treasures u.
Finding, therefore, such terracotta objects of taste to have been so usually employed and
disposed of at Corinth, in the funeral ceremonial, we would certainly therefore, for our part, not
desire to disturb the original reading of " poculis," in the interesting, but perhaps fictional tradition
given currency to by Vitruvius, regarding manners and antiquities, with which very many modern
distinguished philologists appear to be little acquainted.
This Vase is now in the possession of Lord Viscount Strangford, lately our ambassador in
Turkey; but the right arm of the figure, since the author delineated it at Athens, has been lost.
The Vignette at the end of the description of these Plates, represents three ancient bronze
-Helmets, found recently in Greece, and remarkable for remote antiquity and preservation. They were
collected at Patrasc, and lately in the possession of John Cartwright, Esq. his Britannic Majesty's
Consul-general at Constantinople, where he kindly permitted the author to draw them. Their weight
and dimensions are specified on the Plate.
The Helmet in the centre, nearly resembling those on the early coins of Corinthf, is distin-
b s led in being inscribed on the left side, with some very archaic Grecian characters, seen delineated
the border on the Plate, of the real size, as we copied them. They have been interpreted to repre-
, in more modern letters, ZHNOS OATNniOYh, perhaps shewing the casque to have been a votive
trophy on some occasion dedicated ■ at the temple " of Olympian Jupiter," which is probably confirmed
y having been found in the river Alpheus, which occasionally overflows that scene of domestic
recian glory, the renowned plain of 01ympiak, undermining by its waters many remaining founda-
\B.arbaro. translated the passage by " tutti quel Vasi, dei d Strabo, Lib. VIII. p. 381. Dodwell's Travels in Greece,
Vivand V"T^ Vivendo si dilettava." Galiani renders it " delle V. II. p. 200.
O >k ' . CtUa*s') apparently influenced by the record of the e The Consul at Patras, subsequently became possessed of
gic poets, that libatory offerings (Inferiaj) of milk, ho- an antique Helmet, in a very mutilated state, nearly similar in
„ I'm ' ?' T,6re Poured out at Grecian tombs. Orsini has it form to the central one of those here represented.
letazze e gh alberelli;" and Perrauk ^ „ tUs FaKS„ Mr.
Gwilt has used an indefinite term in his translation, by rendering
it those articles to which she had shewn a partiality when alive."
Vitruv. del Barbaro, 1629, p. l64. Vitruv. del M. Galiani,
««poU, 1758. Trad, da Orsini, in Penigia, 1802, V. I. p. 155.
rad de Perrault, p. 108. Trans, by J. Gwilt, 1826, p. 102.
u V,truvius Schneideri, 1807, L. IV. C. I. Comment. Vol.
on thl • Salmasii Exercit' Plin- Saumaise having insisted
pretati Sl"gular word> would have us also adoPt his own inter-
im the°^ of n by ' jocalia,' jewellery, which would present, view-
He 1 C°ntext' as much difficulty as the terms previously <nven.
... Ves " Virginis illius Corinthiae jocula fuere, ut par est
TZ; anmiH' et alia id genus nuga," P. 790.
Athene, ed. Sehweigh. L. XI. C. IV. p. 210.
VOL. IV.
f V. Stuart's Athens, first edit. Vol. III. p. 41; or our new
edition, PL XXXV. Fig. 8. p. 116.
8 See Rose, Ins. Ant. Graec. p. 58. Boeckh-;, Corp. Ins. Grsec.
Vol. I. p. 48.
h The central cuneus of the Theatre at Syracuse, was named
that of Jupiter Olympius, as evident by one of the superscriptions
still existing, engraved in this more modern orthography, Aios
OATMniOT. See Desc. of the Theatre at Syracuse in a subse-
quent part of this volume, PI. V. p. 51.
1 An antique Greek has relief in the Museum Clementinum,
represents a warrior, completely armed, offering a helmet to
Apollo, whose statue is seen on a pedestal. This is described by
Visconti as Menelaus consecrating a helmet the spoil of Euphor-
bus, at the altar of Apollo. Mus. Pio Clem. Vol. V. PI. 23.
k Stanhope's Olympia, p. 14.
H