Worsley, Richard [Sammler] [Hrsg.]: Museum Worsleyanum: or, a collection of antique basso-relievos, bustos, statues, and gems ; with views of places in the Levant ; taken on the spot in the years MDCCLXXXV. VI. and VII. (Band 1) (London, 1824)

HERCULES AND OMPHALE.

The cameo, though not entire, of Hercules embracing Omphale, is finely sculptured.
Hercules, inebriated, is here represented returning from a Bacchanalian festival,
accompanied by a young faun.

THE GRACES.

Pausanias, in his description of Athens, where this cameo was found in the year
1785, informs us that there was, at the entrance of the Acropolis, a groupe of the
Graces, said to have been made by Socrates ; who, according to the testimony of the
Pythian Apollo, was the wisest of men.6 In our elegant gem, Euphrosyne, the Grace
who presided over the gaiety of the table and the splendour of the rich, is represented
holding in her right hand ears of corn ; Thalia, who presided over youth and beauty,
composes the middle figure ; and Aglaia, the younger sister, and wife of Vulcan, as we
are informed by Hesiod, is known by the pileum on her head. Phurnutus says that this
ls tne Grace who rendered works of art beautiful, and mixed the colours for Apelles,
and guided the chisel of Praxiteles. Pindar remarks, that if man is wise, if handsome,
lf neh, he should be full of gratitude to the Graces.

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