This frieze is a remarkable example of the Greek power of combining variety and symmetry. On the right and left of Dionysos the groups correspond with great accuracy, but the correspondent groups always differ one from another. On each side of the God we have an attendant Satyr; a Satyr with a crater; a Satyr watching the conflict; a Satyr hastening to join it; a Satyr kneeling on a pirate; a Satyr about to strike a pirate thrown to the ground; a Satyr breaking off a branch from a tree; a pirate, half transformed, leaping into the sea. The remainder of the frieze is less exactly symmetrical.
Wheler, Journey, p. 397; Spon, Voyage (ed. 1679), II., p. 132. A view of the monument from the monastery garden is shown in Stuart, I., chap. IV., pl. 1. The view from the street is in Le Roy, Ruines, pl. 13. A view of the interior used as a library, Dodwell, Tour, I., pl. facing p. 289. A view subsequent to the destruction of the monastery is given, Exp. de Morée, III., pl. 96. For the present state of the monument see Harrison, Mythology and Monuments of Anc. Athens, p. 245. The original frieze is of Pentelic marble; height, 10½ inches. Stuart, I., ch. IV., pls. 1-26. Stuart's drawings which are freely restored are the basis of the inaccurate plate in Stuart, 2nd ed., Vol. I., ch. IV., pl. 30. The illustrations in most of the text-books are derived from the latter plate; e.g., Müller, Denkmäler, pl. 37; Overbeck, Gr. Plast., 3rd ed., II., p. 91. These works all repeat an erroneous order of the two groups of No. 8, which spoils the symmetry of the frieze; cf. Murray, II., p. 333. An independent and more accurate publication is that in Mus. Marbles, IX., pls. 22-26, taken from the Elgin casts. See also Ellis, Elgin Marbles, II., pp. 79-87. The British Museum also possesses a careful series of drawings from the sculptures, by Lord Elgin's artist, Lusieri. Report of the Elgin Committee, appendix, p. xli.; Wolters, No. 1328.
430. 1. In the centre of the composition is Dionysos turned to the left, reclining on a rock over which drapery is thrown. He leans on his left elbow; with his right hand he caresses a panther which fawns on his knees. In the left hand Dionysos appears to have held a cup and a thyrsos, of which traces appear behind his left shoulder. This figure is now entirely destroyed on the original. There is a considerable resemblance in the pose of Dionysos to that of the so-called Theseus of the east pediment of the Parthenon. On either side of Dionysos is a Satyr, seated on lower rocks. The Satyr on the right clasps his left knee with both hands. (Compare the figure on the east frieze of the Parthenon No. 26). His head was probably turned towards Dionysos. The Satyr on the left of the God rests his left hand on the rock behind him; his right knee is bent and the right leg drawn up under it; in his right hand he holds a thyrsos; his body and head are turned to the right.
Mus. Marbles, IX., pl. 24.
2. Next on the left is a Satyr advancing over rocky ground towards a large crater; in his right hand he holds an oinochoè, with which he is about to take wine from the crater; in his left hand has been a phialè; a fawn skin, nebris, hangs from his left shoulder. His head appears to have been turned towards Dionysos. On the opposite side of the vase stands a Satyr turned to the left, resting his elbows on the stump of a tree, over which is thrown a panther's skin; the top of a thyrsos appears above his right shoulder. He appears to have been bearded.
This figure looks on at the destruction of the pirates which is represented in a series of groups on the left, and which we must suppose to have taken place on a rocky shore overlooked by the higher ground on which Dionysos reclines.
Mus. Marbles, IX., pl. 24.
3. A Satyr advances to the left with a burning torch, with which he is about to assail the fallen pirate of the next group. This Satyr is nude and bearded. His head is bound with a diadem. The head and left leg are now lost on the original. The next group on the left represents a pirate thrown on his hands and knees upon the rocks. On his back kneels a Satyr whose right arm is upraised to strike his prostrate foe with some weapon which is not clearly shown in the relief, but which was probably a pedum, or perhaps a branch. The Satyr has a panther's skin floating in the air, at his back. Between the legs is a lump of plaster, which is due to a fault in the moulding.
Mus. Marbles, IX., pl. 23.
4. Next on the left is a bearded Satyr, who draws back to the right, to collect his force for a blow, with his thyrsos. Meanwhile he looks back at a pirate on his left, who kneels with his hands tied behind him, and looks round towards the Satyr in helpless terror. A panther's skin, hanging from the left shoulder of the Satyr, floats in the air at his back.
Mus. Marbles, IX., pl. 23.