The West Pediment of the Temple at Aegina.
The subject of the West pediment is a battle, in the presence of Athenè, over the body of a wounded warrior. From the Oriental dress of the archer on the right, it is inferred that the battle is being fought between Greeks and Trojans, and that the archer in question is Paris. The scene represented does not correspond exactly with any combat described by Homer. Archaeologists have accordingly been divided in opinion as to the subject. Some hold that the battle is that waged for the body of Patroclos, which was rescued principally by Menelaos, and Ajax, son of Telamon of Aegina. (Homer, Iliad, xvii.; Wolters, p. 48). Others have argued that the presence of Paris points to the fight over the body of Achilles as described in the Aethiopis of Arctinos. See especially Brunn, Beschreibung, p. 79. On account of the discrepancies between the sculptures and the literary tradition it is impossible to decide the question.
The arrangement adopted in the British Museum is that of Cockerell (pl. 16). To complete the group Cockerell supposed that nude figures similar to No. 178 of the East pediment advanced to the fallen hero from each side; and that a spearman knelt between the Paris (No. 168) and the wounded Trojan. Fragments remain of the two youths; but recent writers have put the spearman (No. 166) next the Paris. The positions of the spearmen and the archers on each side have also been reversed. The archers are on this view placed furthest from the combat, and may perhaps be supposed to be protected by the spearmen. Further changes have been proposed which are based on fragments not represented by casts, and which therefore need not here be discussed.
Restorations of the West Pediment. (1) With 11 figures, the bowmen in front of the spearmen. Cockerell, supplementary plate; Blouet, Exp. de Morée, III., pl. 58, fig. 2; Müller, Denkmaeler, I., pls. 6, 7; Overbeck, Gr. Plast., 3rd ed., I., fig. 19a; Murray, I., pl. 7. (2) With 11 figures, the bowmen behind the spearmen. Cockerell, plate; Brunn, Sitzungsber. der k. bayer. Akad., 1868, II., plate; Lange, Ber. der k. sächs. Ges. d. Wissenschaften, 1878, pl. 3, fig. 1. (3) With 13 figures. Cockerell, pl. 16. (4) With 14 figures. Lange, loc. cit., pl. 3, fig. 2; Overbeck, Gr. Plast., 3rd ed., I., fig. 19b.
The figures beginning from the left of the West pediment are:—
160. Wounded Greek, recumbent, disarmed, drawing an arrow from his right breast.
Restored:—Nose, right forearm, left leg from knee to ankle and toes. Cockerell, pl. 15, No. 11; pl. 16; Blouet, III., pl. 69, fig. 2; Brunn, Denkmaeler, No. 25.
161. Greek advancing with spear. Brunn proposes the name of Ajax, son of Oileus.
Restored:—Crest, right hand, left forearm and part of feet. Cockerell, pl. 15, No. 9; pl. 16; Blouet, III., pl. 69, fig. 1.