The next group of deities with which we have to deal is that of the various personifications which are to be found in great numbers on vases of all periods, especially the later. These naturally fall under several headings, which, following the lines of the classification adopted by M. Pottier in a valuable article on the subject,[[936]] we may distribute as follows:—
1. Physical (Sun, Moon, Dawn, Winds, etc.). 2. Geographical (Cities, Rivers, Mountains, etc.). 3. Products of earth (Wine, Harvest, etc.). 4. Groups of various kinds (Muses, Nymphs, etc.). 5. Physical conditions (Health, Old Age, etc.). 6. Social advantages (Wealth, Peace, Victory, etc.). 7. Ethical ideas (Justice, Envy, Strife, etc.). 8. Metaphysical ideas (Necessity, Law, etc.). 9. Social enjoyments (Comedy, Tragedy, Revelry, etc.). 10. Descriptive names.
Of some of these, indeed, we have already treated—such as the beings included in the following of Aphrodite and Dionysos, Ge-Pandora, Hebe (Youth), and the deities of the nether world. The rest we now proceed to consider in order, beginning with natural phenomena, and firstly those of an astronomical character.
I. Helios, the Sun, who in some senses, especially in the mythology of the Roman poets, is identical with Phoebus Apollo, is only once so identified on vases.[[937]] He is usually depicted in his four-horse chariot rising out of the sea (as on the eastern pediment of the Parthenon), either as a single figure or in connection with some myth, indicating that the action takes place at sunrise. As a single figure he appears both on early and late vases, on the latter, usually, as an upper decoration on the large Apulian kraters.[[938]] He is also accompanied by Eos (Dawn) and Selene (Moon), by Hemera (Day), or by Eros[[939]]; but in most cases he and Selene appear together, the latter descending as he rises (as on the Parthenon pediment). Thus on R.F. vases they denote the time of the action, as when Theseus descends below the sea to visit Poseidon,[[940]] or as on the Blacas krater in the British Museum, when Eos pursues Kephalos.[[941]] On the latter vase four stars are also depicted diving into the sea, to indicate their setting. On Apulian vases he is present at the seizure of Persephone,[[942]] at the flight of Pelops from Oinomaos,[[943]] at the madness of Lykourgos,[[944]] at the Judgment of Paris,[[945]] and in the Garden of the Hesperides.[[946]] In one instance a group of Satyrs start back affrighted at his appearance.[[947]] There are two instances of his encounter with Herakles, who endeavoured to stay his progress with his bow.[[948]]
PLATE LIII
Helios and Stars, from the Blacas Krater in the British Museum.
Selene, the Moon, appears in many of the scenes already described under Helios, as on the Blacas krater. She is depicted under two types, either on horseback[[949]] or driving a chariot like Helios,[[950]] both as a single figure and in other scenes; and she is sometimes characterised by the lunar disc or crescent. Besides the scenes already referred to, she appears on horseback at the birth of Dionysos[[951]] and at the pursuit of Medeia by Jason.[[952]] The magic arts used by Thessalian witches to draw down the moon from heaven are also the subject of a vase-painting,[[953]] where two women essay to perform this feat by means of a rope, addressing her, “O Lady Moon!”