File:Greek bronzes (1898) (14589996460).jpg

Identifier: greekbronzes00murr (find matches)
Title: Greek bronzes
Year: 1898 (1890s)
Authors: Murray, A. S. (Alexander Stuart), 1841-1904
Subjects: Bronzes, Greek
Publisher: London : Seeley and Co. New York : Macmillan
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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om right to left, which we know was thedirection always associated with a good omen in the minds of the Greeks.Li the left hand of the god was a sceptre, glittering with various metalsand surmounted by an eagle. The coin omits the eagle, and of coursecan give no equivalent for the metal inlays. The sandals were of gold.As regards the himation worn by the god, ancient writers tell us that itwas richly enamelled, but say nothing of how it was disposed on thefigure. For that we must rely principally on the coin. There we seethat the himation is disposed in the manner usual with Pheidias—as inthe east frieze of the Parthenon and on a Madrid relief. That isto say, it is wrapped closely round the lower limbs, then passes overthe left shoulder, leaving the whole of the right arm and breast bare.It will be seen that the end of the himation appears between thefore leg of the throne and the legs of the god. That is an artistictouch which occurs on some of the best Athenian reUefs, immediately
Text Appearing After Image:
Fig. 25.— Zeus. Bronze found in Hungary. British Museum. GREEK BRONZES 6^ after the time of Pheidias—most probably it had been introduced byhim. The throne was enriched with gold, precious stones, ebony, and ivory,while, as regards the multitude of figures sculptured on it—on the toprail, on the sides, on the legs, the footstool, and the base of the statue,—toread of them almost paralyses the imagination. On the top of each ofthe two front legs of the throne, connecting them with the side rail above,was a group of a sphinx tearing the body of a Theban youth. On thecoin this has been simplified into a sphinx alone, much as on the throneof Zeus on the Parthenon frieze. At a lower level apparently along thesides of the seat were Apollo and Artemis slaying the children of Niobe.I suppose Apollo on one side slaying the sons, Artemis on the other slay-ing the daughters, each deity using bow and arrows. The footstool rested on golden lions, and on it was sculptured a battleof Greeks

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