The Trojan Cycle
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Walters, H. B. (Henry Beauchamp) and Birch, Samuel
Plate XVI. = Helbig, i. p. 435, No. 641 (Aristonoös); Bibl. Nat. 190 = Reinach, i. 64; B.M. B 154; Louvre F 342 = Gaz. Arch. 1887, pl. 1; Berlin 2123; Arch. Anzeiger, 1895, p. 35; Jahrbuch, 1891, pl. 6: see Bolte, Monum. ad Odyss. pert. p. 2.
420 ff. Odysseus escaping under the ram.
B.M. B 407, 502, 687; Karlsruhe 167 = J.H.S. iv. p. 249; Louvre A 482; Reinach, i. 64: see also Ath. Mitth. 1897, pl. 8 (a very early instance); generally, J.H.S. iv. p. 248 ff., and Rev. Arch. xxxi. (1897), p. 28 ff.
Book X. 210 ff. Odysseus and Kirke (see J.H.S. xiii. p. 82).
(a) Arrival of Odysseus.
Reinach, i. 142 = Roscher, ii. 1195.
(b) Transformations of comrades.
Reinach i. 396; Berlin 2342 = ibid. i. 418; Boston Mus. Report, 1899, pp. 59, 61 (both early B.F.).
(c) Odysseus and Kirke.
J.H.S. xiii. pls. 2 (Athens 956), 4 (in B.M.), p. 81 (Oxford 262); and see Reinach, i. 142.
Book XI. 23 ff. Odysseus sacrificing before his visit to Hades.
Bibl. Nat. 422 = Reinach, i. 126 = Baumeister, ii. p. 1040, fig. 1254.
Book XII. 164–200. Odysseus passing the Sirens.
Athens 958 = J.H.S. xiii. pl. 1; B.M. E 440; and see J.H.S. vi. pl. 49, p. 20 (= Louvre F 123); Corinthian aryballos in Boston (Strena Helbigiana, p. 31).
Scenes from the last twelve books are even rarer:
Book XVIII. 35 ff. Odysseus and Iros.
Reinach, ii. 357.
Book XIX. 385 ff. Odysseus recognised by Eurykleia.
Reinach, i. 191.
394 ff. The story of Autolykos.
In connection herewith see Munich 805 = Reinach, i. 277 for a possible representation of the betrothal of Laertes and Antikleia (Hermes, 1898, p. 641; Robert, Homer. Becher, p. 90 ff.; Hyginus, Fab. 201).
Book XXI. 393—XXII. 5 ff. The slaying of the suitors.
Berlin 2588 = Reinach, i. 217.
The scenes from the Oresteia cover roughly the same ground as the great trilogy of Aeschylos, together with the Iphigeneia in Tauris and the Andromache of Euripides. We have first the murder of Agamemnon by Klytaemnestra with her axe.[1423] Next, Elektra making her offerings at the tomb of Agamemnon, sometimes accompanied by her sister Chrysothemis.[1424] It must be borne in mind that the “type” of this scene does not differ in any respect from ordinary scenes of “offering at a stele,” and therefore, where the names are not given or are obviously modern additions, this interpretation is at best a doubtful one. The same applies to the next series of vases, on which Orestes meets Elektra at the tomb[1425]; but there seems to be one undoubted instance of Orestes and Pylades with the urn containing the supposed ashes of the former (cf. Soph. Electra, 1098 ff.).[1426] The next group to be dealt with shows us Orestes slaying Aegisthos,[1427] while Klytaemnestra is held back by Talthybios[1428]; and, finally, the death of Klytaemnestra herself.[1429]
Orestes is then pursued by the Furies,[1430] and seeks refuge at Delphi, where he is purified by Apollo at the Omphalos[1431]; and he is also seen at Athens, where he afterwards sought the protection of Athena.[1432] Other vases, nearly all of late date, and therefore under the influence of the Euripidean tragedy, represent Orestes accompanied by Pylades, arrived at the temple of the Tauric Artemis, where Iphigeneia presents Pylades with the letter.[1433] Lastly, we have the death of Neoptolemos at the hand of Orestes at Delphi.[1434]