Among the minor deities we find that Helios and Selene (Sol and Luna) are often depicted together,[[2864]] or Selene alone,[[2865]] or else their busts together,[[2866]] or separately[[2867]]; in one case there is a simple representation of the solar disc for Helios.[[2868]] A curious subject in the British Museum collection is apparently a combination of the Christian “Good Shepherd” with Helios and the crescent for Selene.[[2869]] Asklepios and Hygieia occur in rare instances,[[2870]] and there is an example of Charon in his boat.[[2871]] Of marine deities and monsters, Triton or Proteus, wearing the pileus or mariner’s cap,[[2872]] Scylla,[[2873]] and a Nereid riding on a sea-monster (Plate [LXIV]. fig. 1)[[2874]] are found. The popularity of exotic religions at Rome is testified to by the occurrence, on the one hand, of Kybele with her lions,[[2875]] and Atys[[2876]]; on the other, of Egyptian deities such as Sarapis, already mentioned, and Harpocrates, who is found either alone, or with Isis, or with Isis and Anubis,[[2877]] or with Safekh (Plate [LXIII]. fig. 3)[[2878]]; Isis and Horus, and busts of Hermanubis and Isis are also found.[[2879]] On the handle of a lamp is a lectisternium with busts of Sarapis and Isis, and of Helios and Selene.[[2880]] The busts of the two Kabeiri also occasionally appear.[[2881]] Among personifications or quasi-personifications we find the three Charites or Graces[[2882]] and a Muse with lyre[[2883]]; others are all typically Roman, such as a bust of Africa on a lamp from Carthage,[[2884]] and such types as Abundantia[[2885]] (or two cornucopiae as her symbol[[2886]]), Vertumnus,[[2887]] Fortune with her steering-oar and cornucopia,[[2888]] and Victory.[[2889]] Many of these seem to be reflections of bronze statuettes of the Roman period.[[2890]] The latter goddess is frequently found, bearing a wreath, a trophy, or a shield,[[2891]] sometimes reclining or in a chariot[[2892]]; or again between two Lares[[2893]]; or two Victories are grouped together.[[2894]] Of special interest are what are known as the New Year lamps, given as strenae on January 1st (see p. [398]),[[2895]] on which Victory is represented holding a shield, on which is inscribed an aspiration (see p. [420]) for a happy New Year, the head of Janus, cakes, coins (stipes), and other emblems filling in the rest of the design (Plate [LXIV]. fig. 5).[[2896]]
Occasionally the inscription is varied, and appears as “For the safety of the state”[[2897]] or “Happiness” simply.[[2898]] Two Lares confronted, holding cornucopia, etc., are also found without Victory.[[2899]] Of representations of Phobos (Fear) we have spoken already (see p. [398]). There are also representations of terminal deities,[[2900]] as well as unidentified goddesses.[[2901]]
Coming now to the heroes and heroic legends, we find that they play on the whole an inconsiderable part in the list of subjects on lamps. Leda is represented with the swan,[[2902]] and the Dioskuri sometimes appear as busts[[2903]]; also Kastor as a full figure, accompanied by his horse.[[2904]] Of the labours of Herakles we have the Nemean lion,[[2905]] the Erymanthian boar,[[2906]] the hydra,[[2907]] and the slaying of the serpent in the Garden of the Hesperides,[[2908]] as well as the combat with a Centaur[[2909]] and the freeing of Prometheus.[[2910]] He is also represented as a single figure, holding the apples of the Hesperides,[[2911]] leading kids,[[2912]] or with a jug or drinking-cup,[[2913]] or his head alone (both bearded and beardless types).[[2914]] Theseus slays the Amazon Andromache[[2915]]; Perseus is represented carrying the Gorgon’s head[[2916]]; Bellerophon is seen fallen from his horse Pegasos, or leading him to drink at Peirene[[2917]]; there are also possible representations of Kadmos and Meleager.[[2918]] Europa is depicted on the bull[[2919]]; Endymion asleep[[2920]]; Aktaeon devoured by his hounds[[2921]]; Telephos suckled by the hind[[2922]]; and Eos pursuing Kephalos.[[2923]] Icaros in his attempted flight is watched by Minos from the walls of Knossos (Plate LXIV. fig. 2).[[2924]] From the Theban legend we have only Oedipus before the Sphinx,[[2925]] a scene from the Phoenissae of Euripides (see p. [415]), and Amphion and Zethos seizing the bull for the punishment of Dirke.[[2926]] Nor are scenes from the Trojan cycle much more common; but Achilles and Thetis are represented,[[2927]] and also Achilles dragging the body of Hector round the walls of Troy[[2928]]; there is a curious scene, somewhat grotesquely treated, of Odysseus and Neoptolemos stealing the bow of Philoktetes, who fans his wounded foot[[2929]]; Ajax is seen grieving after his madness[[2930]]; and Aeneas carries off his aged father and his son from Troy.[[2931]] Odysseus appears before Kirke,[[2932]] passing the Sirens,[[2933]] and offering a cup to Polyphemos,[[2934]] but sometimes also without the Cyclops. Orestes appears at his trial before Athena in the presence of a Fury.[[2935]] A Centaur is seen carrying off a woman, and in combat with a Lapith[[2936]]; also with a lion,[[2937]] carrying an amphora,[[2938]] or playing flutes.[[2939]] An Amazon wounded, standing at an altar, and accompanied by a crane, are also among the list of subjects.[[2940]] A single figure of Pegasos,[[2941]] and the Gorgoneion or Medusa-head,[[2942]] are not infrequently found. Combats of Pygmies and cranes,[[2943]] and a Pygmy on a crocodile,[[2944]] may also perhaps be included under this heading.
The next group of subjects includes those of a historical or literary character. In the British Museum there are two very interesting representations of Diogenes in his tub or pithos (see Vol. I. p. [152]), presumably addressing Alexander, as in the well-known story,[[2945]] but the latter is not represented (Plate LXIV. fig. 6).
Among portraits are busts of Aesop,[[2946]] and various Roman personages, such as Hadrian, Antonia, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, Septimius Severus, Commodus, Julia Domna,[[2947]] Lucius Verus,[[2948]] and others who cannot be identified.[[2949]] A scene from the Phoenissae of Euripides occurs on one lamp, with the combat of the two brothers and the death of Jocasta; the name of the play is actually inscribed on the lamp.[[2950]] With reference to Virgil’s first Eclogue we find a representation of the shepherd Tityrus on a lamp found at Pozzuoli[[2951]]; the shepherd, whose name is given, is seated among his flocks. Several lamps illustrate the well-known fable of Aesop, of the Fox and Crow.[[2952]] The fox, wearing a chlamys, stands on his hind-legs holding up a pair of flutes to the crow, which is perched on the top of a tree. Another subject, which doubtless has reference to some fable, is that of a stork holding in its beak a balance, in which a mouse is weighed against an elephant.[[2953]] The humour of the subject lies in the fact that the mouse is seen to weigh the elephant down. These two are illustrated on Plate [LXV]. figs. 3, 6. There is also a lamp in the British Museum (Plate [LXIII]. fig. 2) with a curious subject which may either be a scene from a comedy like those on the South Italian vases, or else a parody of “a visit to Asklepios.”[[2954]]
The subjects taken from ordinary life are eminently characteristic of the social life of Rome under the Empire. An almost inordinate proportion relate to the now popular gladiatorial shows, and many others deal with the events of the circus and arena. Of gladiatorial subjects there are three principal varieties, which occur again and again on lamps of all shapes and periods with little alteration.[[2955]] One class represents a single gladiator in the characteristic armour, with visored helmet, greaves, and arm-guards, sword and shield[[2956]]; the next represents a combat of two (Plate [LXV]. fig. 5), in which the one is usually worsted and falls at the other’s feet, his shield on the ground beside him.[[2957]] An interesting example in the British Museum (No. 526) shows a mirmillo or secutor in combat with a retiarius, who fought with net and trident. The third series has representations of gladiatorial armour ranged in a circle: swords, shields, arm-guards, greaves, and helmets.[[2958]]
PLATE LXV.
