Part 47 (1/2)

Torso of a warrior armed with a large s.h.i.+eld, who moves to the left front. The head, now wanting, was probably turned to the group next on the right, which consists of two male figures. The one on the left is evidently a victor holding a prisoner, who has his hands tied behind his back. The victor wears a chiton _heteromaschalos_, while the prisoner wears a chlamys.

Between this group and the next figure is a s.p.a.ce, in which should be a male figure standing, turned a little to the right, and wearing a chlamys. He appears to be giving an order to the figure on the right.

Length, 3 feet 8 inches. _Mus. Marbles_, IX., pl. 17. For missing figure, see Stuart, III., ch. I., pl. 20; Overbeck, _Gr. Plast._, 3rd ed. I., p. 348.

[Sidenote: 8.]

Male figure turned to the left, and bending forward. Both arms have been extended in front of the body. The figure wears a helmet and a chiton girt at the waist. The left foot, which is advanced, rested on a higher level than the right foot. There is some uncertainty as to the motive of this figure. Stuart restores it as engaged in the erection of a trophy, and this is accepted by Schultz, _De Theseo_, p. 26; cf. Overbeck, _Gr. Plast._, 3rd ed., I., p. 353. For this however there is very little room. Leake suggested that the figure was engaged adjusting his greave (_Topogr. of Athens_, 2nd ed., p. 511).

Length, 1 foot 6 inches. _Mus. Marbles_, IX., pl. 17.

ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENTS.

[Sidenote: =405.=]

Part of the ceiling, _lacunaria_, of the Theseion with six squares for soffits cut through the marble. See fig. 17.--_Elgin Coll._

Length, 3 feet 11-1/2 inches; breadth, 3 feet 4-1/2 inches.

Stuart, III., ch. I., pl. 8, fig. 2.

[Sidenote: =406.= 1.]

Cover from panel of _lacunar_ of the Theseion.--_Elgin Coll._

Height, 10-1/8 inches; breadth, 10-1/8 inches. _Synopsis_, No. 365 (243); Stuart, III., ch. I., pl. 8, fig. 2.

[Sidenote: 2.]

Similar to last.

Height, 10-1/8 inches; breadth, 9-7/8 inches. _Synopsis_, No. 367 (254); Stuart, III., ch. I., pl. 8, fig. 2.

THE ERECHTHEION.

The Erechtheion is an Ionic temple of a peculiar form, which stands near the north side of the Acropolis of Athens. It embodies in a structure of the end of the fifth century the shrines about which the Athenian religion had centred from time immemorial, and to this fact the anomalous character of the plan must be ascribed.

The building consisted of a central cella divided into three portions, and having a portico of six columns at the east end; a porch of six columns at the north-west corner; and a porch of Caryatids at the south-west. It was built of Pentelic marble, with the exception of the frieze, which had a ground of dark Eleusinian marble.

The temple is known to have been incomplete in 409 B.C. At this time a minute survey of the building was made, by order of the a.s.sembly, and the result was recorded in an inscription which is now in the British Museum. (_C. I. G._ 160; Newton & Hicks, _Greek Inscriptions in Brit.

Mus._, x.x.xv.).

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 18.--Ground Plan of the Erechtheion.]

The east half of the building was devoted to Athene Polias, whose archaic statue was placed in it.

The remainder of the building was a.s.sociated with the cults of Poseidon, Erechtheus, Pandrosos, and others. The arrangement has been a subject of much controversy. The pa.s.sage at the west of the cella probably contained altars of Poseidon (with Erechtheus), of Boutes, and of Hephaestos; the tokens of Poseidon, namely the salt spring, and the marks of the trident, were either in the west central chamber or below the north portico. The south porch served as an additional entrance, but it also contained the tomb of Cecrops. The Pandroseion, which contained the sacred olive-tree of Athene, and a small shrine of Pandrosos, was annexed to the outside of the west end of the building.

The Elgin Collection contains several specimens of the architectural decorations of the Erechtheion. In the above plan (fig. 18), those parts of the building are indicated by letters from which fragments have been obtained. In some instances the exact position is uncertain.

For a discussion of the Erechtheion, see Harrison, _Mythology and Monuments of Anc. Athens_, p. 481.