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The New Athenian Statue Bases

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 December 2013

S. Casson
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Extract

The three marble statue bases found in February 1922, incorporated as integral parts of the wall of Athens, are unique records of Attic art. While their supreme importance was recognised from the moment of their discovery, their exact contribution to our knowledge of Attic art is a matter upon which a variety of opinions has been expressed.

M. Philadelpheus, who as Ephor of antiquities of Attica was responsible for their custody at the time of discovery, was the first to publish them. He describes each briefly. No. I. he dates to the end of the sixth century B.C. No. II. he leaves undated, and No. III. he assigns either to the Peisistratid period or to the period of the Republic before 480. He makes no attempt to deal with the works in detail or to analyse their artistic significance.

M. Oikonomos has published a brief account of II. b, in which he suggests an interpretation of the so-called ‘hockey’ game. He disregards the problems of style and date.

Dr. della Seta of the Italian School at Athens is the only authority at present to discuss the artistic value and significance of Bases I. and II. and to attempt to place them chronologically in the Attic series. His exhaustive and attractive articles deserve the closest attention.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Hellenic Studies , Volume 45 , Issue 2 , 1925 , pp. 164 - 179
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies 1925

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References

1 J.H.S. xlii. p. 104, Pls. VI., VII.; B.C.H. xlvi. p. 1; Ἀρχ. Δελτ. 1920–21, pp. 1–20.

2 His numbering of the slabs will be followed here with the addition of letters to denote the sides. Thus in the case of the two sculptured slabs, a, b and c represent the left, central and right sides from the spectator's point of view. Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 8 are from casts.

3 Ἀρχ. Δελτ. 1920–21, pp. 56–59.

4 In Dedalo, 1922. Ann. III. Fasc. 4: ‘Base di statua con rilievi arcaici scoperta in Atene,’ and Fasc. 7: ‘Un' altra base ateniense con rilievi arcaici.’

5 Manchester Guardian, Feb 17th, March 22nd and May 19th, 1922; Picard, C., La Sculpture antique, Paris, 1923, p. 397Google Scholar; Discovery, April 1923, p. 97, ‘Ball Games in Ancient Greece;’ Droop, J. P., ‘Attic reliefs and vase paintings’ in Liverpool Annals, x. p. 61.Google Scholar

6 The exact position of this stretch of wall is given by Philadelpheus. The wall has since been dismantled and its blocks are lying scattered. Amongst them is a large poros statue base, uninscribed and undecorated, which has not hitherto received notice.

7 See Noack, , Mauern Athens, p. 154Google Scholar, Fig. 16, and contrast with Fig. 22, which shows a wall of the fourth century.

8 Op. cit. p. 56, n. 1.

9 Op. cit. p. 226 (Fasc. 4).

10 MrDinsmoor, suggests (A.J.A. 1923, p. 23)Google Scholar that the bases are more probably capitals of pedestals standing high in the air. He bases his belief on important technical grounds. But no such monuments are known, and the statues so held by the bases would be raised to an awkward height. Nevertheless his suggestion is noteworthy.

11 Acropolis Museum Catalogue, Vol. II. p. 306, No. 67.

12 Della Seta suggests that he has his eye on the boundary behind him to make sure that he does not overstep it. This is probable, but he may equally well be looking at the ball itself.

13 Onomasticon, ix. 109.

14 N. Gardiner, Greek Athletic Sports at Festivals, Figs. 99, 100.

15 Richter, , Met. Mus. Cat. p. 54Google Scholar, No. 81.

16 See the hounds of Artemis on the Aktaeon vase; and Beazley, : Attic Red-figured Ṿases in American Museums, p. 113.Google Scholar

17 Royal MS. 10 E. IV. f. 96, in the British Museum, a volume of Canon Law (Decretals of Gregory IX), written in Italy but decorated in England.

18 Acrop. Mus. Cat. Vol. I., p. 24, note 1, and p. 28.

19 I am indebted to Mr. B. Ashmole for permission to use this photograph.

20 Dickins, , Acrop. Mus. Cat. Vol. I.Google Scholar; see under these numbers.

21 The Berlin relief is wrongly associated by MrSeltman, (Athens, its History and Coinage, p. 104)Google Scholar, with a group of works of art of a later date.

22 See B.C.H. xi. Pl. XIII.; and xliv. p. 238, for a dedication by Hipparchus, the son of Peisistratus.

23 J.H.S. xxxvii, p. 116 ff.

24 J.H.S. xxxvi, p. 16 ff.

25 De Ridder, , Cat. des bronzes trouvées sur l'Acropole, No. 740, Pl. IV.Google Scholar

26 Richter, , Cat. Met. Mus. No. 78, p. 47.Google Scholar

27 Fouilles de Delphes, Pls. V. and VI. Neugebauer, Antike Bronze-Statuetten, No 30.