History of Ancient Pottery: Greek, Etruscan, and Roman. Volume 2 (of 2)Walters, H. B. (Henry Beauchamp)
History
History of Ancient Pottery: Greek, Etruscan, and Roman. Volume 2 (of 2)
Walters, H. B. (Henry Beauchamp)
Mythology, Classical, in art; Pottery, Ancient; Pottery, Etruscan; Pottery, Greek; Pottery, Roman
Lastly, we find a few possible representations of the death of
Achilles,[1408] and others, more certainly to be identified, of the
battle raging round his body, in which Diomedes is wounded[1409]; also
of Ajax carrying the body off out of the battle,[1410] and the
subsequent mourning of the Nereids over it.[1411] A representation of
the ghost of a warrior, winged and fully armed, flying over a
ship,[1412] is to be regarded as that of Achilles, though to what event
it alludes is not clear. The dispute over the hero’s armour and the
suicide of the disappointed Ajax are introduced by a scene representing
the fetching of Neoptolemos, his son, from Skyros, where he bids
farewell to Lykomedes and Deidameia[1413]; of the quarrel between Ajax
and Odysseus there are also several representations.[1414] It was
decided finally by Athena, who is represented presiding over the Greek
chiefs as they vote[1415]; or, according to another version, they cast
lots before her statue.[1416] The armour is then awarded to
Neoptolemos,[1417] who, according to an oracle, was indispensable for
the capture of Troy. Ajax goes mad with disappointment, and finally
commits suicide by falling on his sword[1418]; the episode of his
slaying the sheep is not, however, represented.
The Ἰλίου Πέρσις, or =sack of Troy=, which is so vividly represented on
many of the vases of advanced and late style, may be said to begin with
the episode of the seizure of the Palladion by Odysseus and
Diomede.[1419] It is rapidly followed by the construction of the wooden
horse and its entry into the city.[1420] There is, however, only one
certain representation of the death of Laokoön to be traced,[1421] and
none of the traitorous Sinon.
Several vases, especially of the later epoch, collect the chief
episodes in a frieze or in a series of groups, including the rape of
Kassandra by Ajax, son of Oileus, the death of Priam and Astyanax, the
recapture of Helen by Menelaos, and the flight of Aeneas; other scenes
represented are the leading back of Aithra by Akamas and Demophon, and
the sacrifice of Polyxena and subsequent blinding of Polymestor by
Hecuba.
I. General.
Berlin 1685 (= Overbeck, _Her. Bildw._ pl. 26, 1) and 2281; Plate
LIV. = Furtwaengler and Reichhold, pl. 25 (Brygos in Louvre);
Naples 2422 = Furtwaengler and Reichhold, pl. 34 = Baumeister, i.
pl. 14, fig. 795; B.M. F 160, F 278.
II. (_a_) Ajax seizing Kassandra at the altar of Athena.
B.F. B.M. B 242, 379; Berlin 1698; Roscher, ii. p. 979.
R.F. B.M. E 336, E 470; Reinach, i. 221, 338 = Roscher, ii. pp. 985,
981; _Bourguignon Sale Cat._ 33.
Late. B.M. F 209; Roscher, ii. p. 983.
(_b_) Death of Priam and Astyanax.[1422]
(1) Priam only.
B.M. B 241; _Röm. Mitth._ iii. (1888), pp. 108–9; Reinach, ii. 109;
Berlin 3996. [Priam dead in all except second.]
(2) Priam usually seated on altar; Neoptolemos swings body or head
of Astyanax.
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