ON THE PROGRESS OF SCULPTURE. 465 



ment and condemnation of Phidias. Nay, the 

 very passage in the text of Aristophanes, to 

 which the scholiast refers, states, that the trial of 

 Phidias occurred before the Peloponnesian war 

 broke out ; which corresponds with the narrative 

 in Diodorus. 



The date of the statue of Minerva, is capable of 

 being more correctly determined. In the Chro- 

 nicle of Eusebius, under Olympiad LXXXV. 2. 

 it is stated "in this year Phidias completed his 

 statue of Minerva." this was two years before the 

 archonship of Euthymenes, and the commence- 

 ment of the Propylsea. The Parthenon and the 

 statue were finished at that time, but the articles of 

 accusation against Phidias were not framed until 

 the building of the Propylaea was completed. 



From these premises the following inferences 

 may be drawn. In the Olympiad LXXXIII. the 

 splendid designs of Pericles, for the embellishment 

 of the city were commenced, and the execution of 

 the statue of Minerva, was assigned to Phidias. 

 Ten years were employed in the completion of this 

 great work, which was finished in the Olympiad 

 LXXXV. 2. In the Olympiad LXXXV. 4. 

 the Propylaea was commenced ; and finished 

 3 o 



