DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2532#0043
22
GENEHAL INT RODUCTI ON
Fig. 11 a, b. — Two Coins of Argos.
Hera ok Polycleitcs.
The
himself into this bird, and that Ilera caught the bird to play vvitli it. . . . It is said that beside
the image of Hera once stood an image of Hebe, also of ivory and gold, a work of Nauoydes."
The exact position for the hase of this statue of Hera is shown in Mr. Tilton's plans
(cf. Plate XVI.). We are helped in forming some conception of the general composi-
tion of this great statue by extant Argive coins ;1 though we must remember the evident
truth that small coins of a later period (these belong to imperial Rome) can hardly convey
any adequate idea of the artistic spirit or finish of such colossal statues by a master-hand.
However, these coins show us the seated Hera on her throne, and even represent the
pomegranate in her right hand, and the sceptre upheld by her left hand (Fig. 11). We
naturally come much closer to the artistic spirit
,t h J 1
of the statue in such coins as do not attempt to
render the whole figure and throne, but merely
give the head. One of these Argive coins,2 in
particular, has been recognized by all authorities
as being directly inspired by the gold and ivory
statue of Polycleitus (Fig. 12). Furtwiingler3
goes so far as to consider it a direct copy of the
statue. If this be so (and I am inclined to
agree with him) Ave must always allow, especially in the rendering of details and orna-
ments, for the necessary modifications to be made in reducing a head and neck from at
least four to five feet in height to a flat relief half an inch in diameter. We are, then,
not surprised that the elaborate decoration of the arecfxivrj with Graces and Seasons,
should be reduced to a decoration of flowers and honeysuckle scrolls. To realize
how this reduction in ornament occurs, we need only compare with one another the
several coins of this series,4 which present this same type in varying degrees of artistic
accuracy and excellence, to find how the aTe^avr) becomes smaller and
less significant, and reduces its ornament. But in view of the evidence
furnished by the coin as to the ornamentation of the o-Tedjavr) on the
gold and ivory statue, it may perhaps be advisable to compare a pas-
sage in Tertullian 5 with the description of Pausanias. If Tertullian
is referring to the Polycleitan Hera, he implies in his vine-wreath a
plant-ornamentation about the head. The band part of the crown
possibly — or even probably — was decorated with such a scroll pat-
tern ; while the Graces and Seasons (omitted from this coin) were
fashioned in the round or in high relief, and projected as points to
this crown. The coins which give the whole figure show such points.
The importance of this fact and its bearing upon the results of our excavations will
m
••• ■
Fig. 12. — Coin of
Akgos. The
head of poly-
cleitus's Hera.
1 See Imhoof-Blunier and Gardner, Numismatic Com-
mentai'i/ on Pausanias, p. 34, pi. i. 12, 13, 14, 15; Gard-
ner, Types of Greek Coins, p. 137, and pi. viii. 13; Over-
beck, Kunstmythologie, III. p. 41, and Munztafel ii. and iii.;
Head, Historia Nummorum, p. 367; Frazer, Pausanias, III.
p. 184, fig. 29; Hitzig-Blumner, op. cit. i. 2, pi. xvi. No. 18.
2 Imhoof-Blnmer and Gardner, op. cit. pi. i. 14; Over-
beck, op. cit. Miinztafel ii. C; Hitzig-Blumner, op. cit. pi.
xvi. 19.
8 Meisterwerke, p. 413.
4 Cf. the several types as given in Gardner, Types of
Greek Coins, pi. viii.
5 Be Cor. Mil. 7. Botticher, Kunstm>/th. II. 288,
and Brunn, Gesch. der Griecli. Kimsller, I. p. 213, refer
this passage to the Polycleitan Hera, though others doubt.
Cf. Hitzig-Blumner, op. cit. I. 2, p. 5GG : these same
scholars (p. 5G7) quote several authorities in support of
their view that the anthemia (Palmetten) ornament is in-
timately related to Graces and Seasons : " In der symbo-
lischen Bedeutung stimmen freilich beide iiberein ; denn
wie die Chariten und Horen Bluhen und Anmuth bedeu-
ten, so geht audi das Antheinien-Ornanient auf vegeta-
bilisehen Segen."
GENEHAL INT RODUCTI ON
Fig. 11 a, b. — Two Coins of Argos.
Hera ok Polycleitcs.
The
himself into this bird, and that Ilera caught the bird to play vvitli it. . . . It is said that beside
the image of Hera once stood an image of Hebe, also of ivory and gold, a work of Nauoydes."
The exact position for the hase of this statue of Hera is shown in Mr. Tilton's plans
(cf. Plate XVI.). We are helped in forming some conception of the general composi-
tion of this great statue by extant Argive coins ;1 though we must remember the evident
truth that small coins of a later period (these belong to imperial Rome) can hardly convey
any adequate idea of the artistic spirit or finish of such colossal statues by a master-hand.
However, these coins show us the seated Hera on her throne, and even represent the
pomegranate in her right hand, and the sceptre upheld by her left hand (Fig. 11). We
naturally come much closer to the artistic spirit
,t h J 1
of the statue in such coins as do not attempt to
render the whole figure and throne, but merely
give the head. One of these Argive coins,2 in
particular, has been recognized by all authorities
as being directly inspired by the gold and ivory
statue of Polycleitus (Fig. 12). Furtwiingler3
goes so far as to consider it a direct copy of the
statue. If this be so (and I am inclined to
agree with him) Ave must always allow, especially in the rendering of details and orna-
ments, for the necessary modifications to be made in reducing a head and neck from at
least four to five feet in height to a flat relief half an inch in diameter. We are, then,
not surprised that the elaborate decoration of the arecfxivrj with Graces and Seasons,
should be reduced to a decoration of flowers and honeysuckle scrolls. To realize
how this reduction in ornament occurs, we need only compare with one another the
several coins of this series,4 which present this same type in varying degrees of artistic
accuracy and excellence, to find how the aTe^avr) becomes smaller and
less significant, and reduces its ornament. But in view of the evidence
furnished by the coin as to the ornamentation of the o-Tedjavr) on the
gold and ivory statue, it may perhaps be advisable to compare a pas-
sage in Tertullian 5 with the description of Pausanias. If Tertullian
is referring to the Polycleitan Hera, he implies in his vine-wreath a
plant-ornamentation about the head. The band part of the crown
possibly — or even probably — was decorated with such a scroll pat-
tern ; while the Graces and Seasons (omitted from this coin) were
fashioned in the round or in high relief, and projected as points to
this crown. The coins which give the whole figure show such points.
The importance of this fact and its bearing upon the results of our excavations will
m
••• ■
Fig. 12. — Coin of
Akgos. The
head of poly-
cleitus's Hera.
1 See Imhoof-Blunier and Gardner, Numismatic Com-
mentai'i/ on Pausanias, p. 34, pi. i. 12, 13, 14, 15; Gard-
ner, Types of Greek Coins, p. 137, and pi. viii. 13; Over-
beck, Kunstmythologie, III. p. 41, and Munztafel ii. and iii.;
Head, Historia Nummorum, p. 367; Frazer, Pausanias, III.
p. 184, fig. 29; Hitzig-Blumner, op. cit. i. 2, pi. xvi. No. 18.
2 Imhoof-Blnmer and Gardner, op. cit. pi. i. 14; Over-
beck, op. cit. Miinztafel ii. C; Hitzig-Blumner, op. cit. pi.
xvi. 19.
8 Meisterwerke, p. 413.
4 Cf. the several types as given in Gardner, Types of
Greek Coins, pi. viii.
5 Be Cor. Mil. 7. Botticher, Kunstm>/th. II. 288,
and Brunn, Gesch. der Griecli. Kimsller, I. p. 213, refer
this passage to the Polycleitan Hera, though others doubt.
Cf. Hitzig-Blumner, op. cit. I. 2, p. 5GG : these same
scholars (p. 5G7) quote several authorities in support of
their view that the anthemia (Palmetten) ornament is in-
timately related to Graces and Seasons : " In der symbo-
lischen Bedeutung stimmen freilich beide iiberein ; denn
wie die Chariten und Horen Bluhen und Anmuth bedeu-
ten, so geht audi das Antheinien-Ornanient auf vegeta-
bilisehen Segen."