The Palace and Park: Its Natural History, and Its Portrait Gallery, Together with a Description of the Pompeian CourtLatham, R. G. (Robert Gordon)
History
The Palace and Park: Its Natural History, and Its Portrait Gallery, Together with a Description of the Pompeian Court
Latham, R. G. (Robert Gordon)
Crystal Palace (Sydenham, London, England)
[The hero of Marathon received all portrait honours from the
Athenians. Pliny relates that Panænus, the brother of Phidias, painted
a picture of the battle with portraits of the generals; and the great
sculptor himself made a statue of the conqueror, the cost of which was
appropriately paid out of the spoils of the Persians. It was placed in
the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. The bust, No. 25A, is in the Louvre;
it was found on the Celian Hill at Rome. The back part of the helmet
has sculptured upon it the furious bull of Marathon which Theseus
killed, and which Miltiades wears as a trophy of valour. This portrait
has been identified by a bust engraved with the name, described by
Fulvius Ursinus, but which is unfortunately lost.]
25A. MILTIADES. _Athenian General._
26. ASPASIA.
[Born at Miletus, in Asia Minor. Date of birth and death unknown; but
in the fifth century B.C.]
A woman of great beauty and intellectual power, and the contemporary of
Pericles, who was her lover, and over whom she gained unbounded sway.
Her house was the resort of the greatest and most learned men in Athens,
and Socrates, Plato, and Alcibiades were her frequent guests. She is the
first of her sex whose portrait has been handed down from hoary
antiquity unto the present time. It is related that Pericles learnt
political wisdom from her instruction, and took eloquence from her lips.
Pericles rewarded his instructress by saving her life through his
eloquence and tears, when, like Socrates, Aspasia was arraigned on the
charge of impiety. After the death of Pericles, Aspasia attached herself
to an obscure man of the name of Lysicles, whom she advanced by her
instructions to high office in the Athenian republic.
[From the marble in the Vatican, which is inscribed with her name.
This form of bust is rare for women; but it is thought to have been
chosen purposely, to show the superiority of one who gave counsel to
Pericles and taught, they say, Socrates eloquence. Her great celebrity
is guaranteed by this monument, which is the earliest antique Greek
portrait of a lady.]
27. PERICLES. _Athenian Statesman._
[Born at Athens, B.C. 494. Died B.C. 429. Aged 65.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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