Chapter XVIII: Part III: The Successors of Pheidias (6)

The following votive tablets (Nos. 799-808), with representations of portions of the human body and with votive inscriptions to Highest Zeus ([Greek: Zeus hypsistos]), were discovered by the fourth Earl of Aberdeen, in 1803. Excavations were made at the foot of the rock-wall near the rock-cut structure commonly known as the Bema of the Pnyx, and the tablets which were then found, are presumed to have fallen from niches cut to receive them in the rock above (Dodwell, _Tour_, i., p. 402). It has been argued that the spot where the reliefs were found was not the Pnyx, but the altar of Highest Zeus (Welcker, _Der Fels-Altar des Hoechsten Zeus_, &c., 1852). The inscriptions, however, which are here described, are of Roman times, and are of little value for the decision of the question. (Cf. Hicks, _Greek Inscriptions in Brit. Mus._ lx.)

[Sidenote: =799.=]

Tablet with votive relief representing a female breast dedicated by Eutychis.

Inscribed: [Greek: Eutychis hypsisto euche(n)].--_Pnyx, Athens._ _Elgin Coll._

Pentelic marble; height, 5-3/4 inches; width, 5-1/2 inches.
Dodwell, _Tour_, I., p. 403; _Synopsis_, No. 210 (245); _Mus.
Marbles_, IX., pl. 41, fig. 3; _C.I.G._, 504; Ellis, _Elgin
Marbles_, II., p. 105, No. 210; _Greek inscriptions in Brit.
Mus._, LXVI.

[Sidenote: =800.=]

Tablet with votive relief representing a female breast, dedicated by Isias.

Inscribed: [Greek: Eisias hyps[isto] eu[chen]].--_Pnyx, Athens._ _Elgin Coll._

Pentelic marble; height, 8 inches; width, 6-1/2 inches. Dodwell,
_Tour_, I., p. 403; _Synopsis_, No. 209 (247); _Mus. Marbles_,
IX., pl. 41, fig. 2; _C.I.G._, 505; Ellis, _Elgin Marbles_, II.,
p. 105, No. 209; _Greek Inscriptions in Brit. Mus._, LXVII.

[Sidenote: =801.=]

Tablet with votive relief, representing a pair of eyes, dedicated by Philemation.

Inscribed: [Greek: Philematin [e]uchen ane[th]eken].--_Pnyx, Athens._ _Elgin Coll._

Pentelic marble; height, 3-1/2 inches; width, 5-1/2 inches.
Dodwell, _Tour_, I., p. 403, with woodcut; _Synopsis_, No. 214
(251); _Mus. Marbles_, IX., pl. 41, fig. 5; _C.I.G._, 506; Ellis,
_Elgin Marbles_, II., p. 105, No. 212; _Greek Inscriptions in
Brit. Mus._, LXVIII.

[Sidenote: =802.=]

Fragment of a votive relief, which originally represented a pair of eyes in relief, but now has little remaining except the left eye and part of the inscription: [Greek: hyps]ist[o].--_Pnyx, Athens._ _Found by the fourth Earl of Aberdeen in 1803, and presented by the fifth Earl of Aberdeen in 1861._

Pentelic marble; height, 3-3/4 inches; width, 5 inches. _Greek
Inscriptions in Brit. Mus._, LXIX. This relief is perhaps
identical with _C.I.G._, 499.

[Sidenote: =803.=]

Fragment of votive relief, with toes and the forepart of the right foot.--_Pnyx, Athens._ _Elgin Coll._

Pentelic marble; height, 6-1/2 inches; width, 5-1/2 inches.
_Synopsis_, No. 217 (253); _Mus. Marbles_, IX., pl. 41, fig. 4;
Ellis, _Elgin Marbles_, II., p. 105, No. 217.

[Sidenote: =804.=]

Tablet with votive relief of vulva, dedicated by Olympias.

Inscribed: [Greek: Olympias hypsisto euchen].--_Pnyx, Athens._ _Elgin Coll._

Pentelic marble; height, 5-1/2 inches; width, 7-1/2 inches.
Dodwell, _Tour_, I., p. 403; _Synopsis_, No. 216 (246); _C.I.G._,
500; _Greek Inscriptions in Brit. Mus._, LXII.

[Sidenote: =805.=]

Tablet with votive relief, representing a human face from the bridge of the nose downwards, dedicated by Tertia.

Inscribed: [Greek: Tertia hypsisto euchen].--_Pnyx, Athens._ _Elgin Coll._

Pentelic marble; height, 8-1/2 inches; width, 7-3/4 inches.
Dodwell, _Tour_, I., p. 404, with woodcut; _Synopsis_, No. 218
(250); _Mus. Marbles_, IX., pl. 41, fig. 7; _C.I.G._, 501; Ellis,
_Elgin Marbles_, II., p. 105, No. 218; _Greek Inscriptions in
Brit. Mus._, LXIII.

[Sidenote: =806.=]

Tablet with votive relief, representing a pair of arms, within a panel, dedicated by Claudia Prepusa. The hands are wanting.

Inscribed: [Greek: Klaudia Prepousa eucharisto hypsisto].--_Pnyx, Athens._ _Elgin Coll._

Pentelic marble; height, 6 inches; width, 7-1/4 inches. Dodwell,
_Tour_, I., p. 402, with woodcut; _Synopsis_, No. 215 (248);
_Mus. Marbles_, IX., pl. 41, fig. 6; _C.I.G._, 502; Ellis, _Elgin
Marbles_, II., p. 105, No. 215; _Greek Inscriptions in Brit.
Mus._, LXIV.

[Sidenote: =807.=]

Tablet with votive relief, representing a female breast somewhat broken, dedicated by Onesime.

Inscribed: [Greek: Onesime euchen Dii hypsisto].--_Pnyx, Athens._ _Elgin Coll._

Pentelic marble; height, 4-7/8 inches; width, 6 inches. Dodwell,
_Tour_, I., p. 403; _Synopsis_, No. 211 (249); _Mus. Marbles_,
IX., pl. 41, fig. 1; _C.I.G._, 503; Ellis, _Elgin Marbles_, II.,
p. 105, No. 211; _Greek Inscriptions in Brit. Mus._, LXV.

[Sidenote: =808.=]

Fragment of a votive relief, with part of a thigh, or perhaps part of the shoulder.

Inscribed: [Greek: ....a theo hypsi[sto e]uchen].--_Pnyx, Athens. Found by the fourth Earl of Aberdeen in 1803, and presented by the fifth Earl of Aberdeen in 1861._

Pentelic marble; height, 4-1/4 inches; width, 4-1/2 inches. _Greek
Inscriptions in Brit. Mus._, LXX.

[Sidenote: =809.=]

Tablet with votive relief representing a left leg from above the knee in relief, dedicated to Asclepios and Hygieia.

Inscribed: [Greek: Asklepio kai Hyg(i)eia eucharisterion].--_Found in 1828, in a Shrine of Asclepios in Melos._ _Blacas Coll._

Parian marble; height, 1 foot 1-1/2 inches; width, 7-1/2 inches.
_Annali dell' Inst._, 1829, p. 341; _Exp. de Moree_, III., pl.
29, fig. 2; _C.I.G._, 2429; _Greek Inscriptions in Brit. Mus._,
CCCLXV. This relief was found together with the fine head of
Asclepios (No. 550) and with a votive inscription (_C.I.G._,
2428).

[Sidenote: =810.=]

Tablet with votive relief, representing a right ear. The right side of the tablet is lost.--_Cyrene._

Marble; height, 6-3/4 inches; width, 10 inches. Smith and Porcher,
p. 108, No. 148.

[Sidenote: =811.=]

Square votive tablet, dedicated by Anthusa, the daughter of Damainetos. On the tablet, within a raised wreath, the following objects are sculptured in relief:--In the centre is a bowl (phiale) inscribed with the dedication. Round this bowl are ranged a mirror, a torch, a spindle, a comb, a small phial, a small box with a lid containing three little circular boxes, which probably held paints; a pair of shoes; a small mortar, containing a pestle, shaped like a bent thumb; a knife, a strigil, a bottle, two bodkins, a small oval box with a lid, which probably held a sponge; a pair of shoes, and a conical object like a cap. The raised wreath which encircles these objects is composed of pomegranates, ears of corn, and ivy-berries, round which a sash is wound. Outside the wreath, on the upper right-hand corner of the tablet, a situla is sculptured in low relief, and a small footstool (?) on the lower corner on the same side. The corresponding angles on the left side of the tablet have been broken away, but the upper angle appears to have contained a situla. The relief is inscribed [Greek: Anthouse Damainetou hypostatria]. [Greek: Hypostatria] probably denotes some minister of inferior rank in the temple of the goddess to whom the tablet was dedicated. The explanation of the word [Greek: statria] given by Hesychius ([Greek: emplektria]), makes it probable that the function of the [Greek: hypostatria] here mentioned was to dress the image of the goddess. This and the tablet No. 812 were found by the Earl of Aberdeen built into a ruined Byzantine church at _Slavochori in Laconia_, a place which is believed to be the site of the ancient Amyclae. The combination of pomegranates and ears of corn, the symbols of Persephone and Demeter, with ivy-berries and fir-cones, the symbols of Dionysos, makes it probable that in the temple in which these tablets were dedicated, these deities had a joint worship.

Pausanias (iii., 20, 4) mentions a town near Amyclae called Bryseae, where was a temple of Dionysos which none but women were permitted to enter, and where women only performed the sacrifices. It is not improbable, as Lord Aberdeen conjectured, that these votive tablets were originally dedicated in this temple, and thence brought to Slavochori. It was a common custom among the Greeks to dedicate articles of female attire and toilet in the temples of goddesses. (See _Greek Inscriptions in Brit. Mus._, No. xxxiv.)--_Brought from Greece by George, fourth Earl of Aberdeen; presented by George, fifth Earl of Aberdeen, 1861._

Marble; height, 3 feet; width, 2 feet 9-1/2 inches. This
sculpture, with the following, was first published, in a strangely
perverted form, by Caylus (_Recueil d'Antiq._, II., pl. 51),
from drawings by Fourmont. Lord Aberdeen published them, with an
engraving in Walpole's _Memoirs relating to Turkey_, London,
1817, I., p. 446. See also _C.I.G._, 1467; Leake, _Travels in
the Morea_, I., p. 188, and _Peloponnesiaca_, pp. 163-165; _Greek
Inscriptions in Brit. Mus._, CXLI.; Wolters, No. 1852; _Guide to
Graeco-Roman Sculptures_, Part II., No. 11; Mansell, No. 728.

[Sidenote: =812.=]

Votive tablet, dedicated by a priestess called Claudia Ageta, on which are sculptured in relief various articles of the toilet. In the centre is a bowl inscribed with the name of the priestess, [Greek: Klau(dia) Ageta Antipatrou, hiereia]; round it are the following objects:--On the left of the bowl, a shell to hold unguents, two mirrors (one much smaller than the other), a small comb, a hair-pin, a small bottle for unguents, a small oval tray with a lid, containing a sponge, a larger bottle, a cylindrical object, and a circular object like a stud; above the bowl is a small elliptical box, a bottle, and an object which appears to be a net for the hair; below are a comb, two bodkins, and a strigil. On the right of the bowl are two pairs of shoes, two studs linked together, a small mortar (in which is a pestle like a bent thumb), a spoon, and a small oblong box with a lid, into which are fitted six little circular boxes or bottles. Round these sculptured objects runs a raised frame richly ornamented with fir-cones, ivy, ears of corn, and pomegranates, and with a coiled snake in its lower side.--_From Slavochori in Laconia (cf. No. 811). Presented by the fifth Earl of Aberdeen, 1861._

Marble; height, 2 feet 3-1/2 inches; width, 3 feet 6 inches.
Walpole's _Memoirs relating to Turkey_, 1817, I., p. 446;
_C.I.G._, 1466; _Greek Inscriptions in Brit. Mus._, CXLII.; _Guide
to Graeco-Roman Sculptures_, Part II., No. 12; Wolters, No. 1851.

[Sidenote: =813.=]

Fragment of a votive relief dedicated by a victor in a torch race. On the right a youth, with a whisk for sprinkling, and a man stand at an altar. The head of the man is lost. Three nude athletes, of whom two are bearded, stand on the left conversing. Above is an entablature with the dedicatory inscription: [Greek: Ho deina l]ampadi nikesas, gymnasiarchon [anetheken]].--_Athens._ _Strangford Coll._

Pentelic marble; height, 1 foot 5-1/2 inches; width, 1 foot 1/2
inch. _C.I.G._, 257; _Greek Inscriptions in Brit. Mus._, XLI.;
_C.I.A._, II., 1221.

[Sidenote: =814.=]

Votive tablet in commemoration of a victory in the chariot race. A draped charioteer drives a chariot, drawn by four horses, which move to the left in spirited action. Over them floats in the air a winged Victory extending a wreath, now wanting, towards the charioteer. The left side of the relief and the lower edge have been broken away. The missing portion on the left probably contained a figure running in front of the chariot, as the end of a staff and traces of the hand which grasped it, appear at the edge of the slab. The charioteer wears a tunic girt at the waist; a scarf passing round the back of the head bellies out with the wind, while the ends, drawn back under the arms, float behind.

This figure appears to be female, and in that case would doubtless be a personification, possibly of the city to which the victorious charioteer belonged. A similar votive tablet mounted on a pilaster is shown outside a house or temple in the composition representing the visit of Dionysos to Icarios, in the third Graeco-Roman Gallery (_Guide to Graeco-Roman Sculptures_, Pt. I., No. 176), and such commemorative tablets were often dedicated by Agonistic Victors. Compare a fragmentary relief at Athens, on which a horse is crowned by Victory. (Schoene, _Griechische Reliefs_, pl. 18, fig. 80.)--_From Consul Logothetis' house at Athens._ _Elgin Coll._

Pentelic marble; present height, 2 feet 3-1/2 inches; width, 2
feet 8 inches. _Mus. Marbles_, IX., pl. 38, fig. 2; Ellis, _Elgin
Marbles_, II., p. 126; _Synopsis_, No. 197 (236).

[Sidenote: =815.=]

Fragment of a relief, perhaps a votive tablet in commemoration of a chariot race. Four heads of horses in rapid movement to the right; the head of the foremost horse has been held by a figure, of which the right hand only remains.

Marble; height, 11-1/2 inches; width, 1 foot 1 inch. _Guide to
Graeco-Roman Sculptures_, Part II., No. 47.

[Sidenote: =816.=]

Votive relief. Hecate stands, turned to the left, with a large torch in her left hand. With the right hand she places a wreath on the head of a mare standing before her. She wears a chiton, confined by bands crossing on the breast, such as are common on figures of charioteers, Furies, and others. Behind her is a large dog. The relief is surmounted by a large pediment. This relief appears to have been dedicated by the owner of a successful horse.--_Crannon in Thessaly._ _Presented by Col. Leake, 1839._

White marble, with remains of blue paint on the ground; height, 1
foot 3-1/2 inches; width, 1 foot 11 inches. Millingen, _Anc.
Uned. Monuments_, II., pl. 16, fig. 1. Compare a relief at Athens,
Schoene, _Griechische Reliefs_, pl. 26, fig. 108.

[Sidenote: =817.=]

Votive relief with three figures standing to the front. On the right is Apollo wearing the dress of a minstrel, having a long chiton girt at the waist, and a himation. He holds out a phiale in his right hand. On the right is an omphalos, about which a snake is coiled. The central figure, who is bearded, wears the dress of Dionysos with short tunic, high boots, and a himation closely confined. He has a torch in the left hand and holds out a phiale in the right hand. On the left is a figure of Zeus, with a phiale held out in the right hand, and a sceptre in the left hand. The relief is bounded by two pilasters surmounted by an entablature and pediment.

Below is a group of six male figures reclining, who are sketched out in low relief. Before them are four figures: (_a_) on the left a comic figure seated, playing on double flutes, and beating time with a _kroupezion_ or scabellum; (_b_) a nude female figure dancing; (_c_) a comic figure running, wearing a Phrygian cap, and having a pair of double flutes in each hand; (_d_) on the right, a figure with an oinochoe in each hand drawing wine from a large vessel.

Inscribed: [Greek: Dii hypsisto k(ai) to ch(o)ro Thallos eponymos ton telamona apedoka]. The relief ([Greek: telamon]) appears to have been dedicated by a successful dramatic poet, Thallos, who gave his name to the fete.--_Cyzicus._ _Presented by A. van Branteghem, Esq._

Marble; height, 3 feet 1-1/2 inches; width, 1 foot 10 inches.
_Rev. Arch._, 1891, p. 10, No. 1. Compare a relief now at Athens,
from Nicaea, in Conze, _Reise auf der Insel Lesbos_, pl. 19;
Lueders, _Dionys. Kuenstler_, pl. 2.

LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS.

PLATE I.

PLATE II.

(_From a drawing by George Scharf._)]

PLATE III.

(_From a drawing by George Scharf._)]

PLATE IV.

PLATE V.

PLATE VI.

PLATE VII.

PLATE VIII.

PLATE IX.

PLATE X.

PLATE XI.

PLATE XII.

* * * * * *

Transcriber's note:

Some illustrations have been moved to the ends of their descriptive paragraphs to allow for freer flow of the text.

There are some inconsistencies in the spelling of (foreign) proper names throughout the book. In each case, both forms have been retained.

Journal numbers (X...; x...; etc.) appear in both upper and lower case throughout the book. Both forms have been retained.

There are a few instances of the high dot ., or Greek colon, in the Greek text, which have been retained.

Pages 108 and 136: Fig. 9 was used twice in the original book, and both instances have been retained.

Page 10: 'donotion' corrected to 'donation' - " ... have been acquired by donation or bequest,"

Page 11, Footnote 42: '214' corrected to '211'.

Numbers '212', '213' and '214' do not exist. Thus, '211' is the number before '215'; and '211' fits the category of the other numbers in this footnote. "See Nos. 211, 643, 652, 667, 680, 693, 699, 726, 736."

Page 46: 'Beechino' corrected to 'Beecheno' - "See also Solly, _Memoirs of W. J. Mueller_, 1875; Beecheno,"

Page 64: 'real' corrected to 'reel' - "... but include bead and reel mouldings,"

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