466 ON THE PROGRESS OF SCULPTURE. 



LXXXVI. 4. In the following year the Pelo- 

 ponnesian war broke out, and before this the trial 

 of Phidias took place. 



What follows in the Scholium concerning the 

 flight of Phidias to Elis, and his there being put 

 to death is extremely improbable. Admitting 

 that he had been found guilty, and suffered 

 capital punishment ; is it credible that the inhab- 

 itants of Elis, would sufffer his name to remain on 

 the statue of Jupiter, or assign a pension to his 

 descendants ? Is it reconcileable with the respect 

 shown to his memory by keeping that statue in 

 repair — in guarding the building in which he 

 worked from dilapidation ; and with the pride 

 they experienced in pointing out to strangers the 

 work-room of the artist? Leaving out of the 

 question, then, the supposition of his ignominious 

 death, is the remainder of the narrative regarding 

 his flight to Elis, and his execution of the statue 

 of Jupiter, entitled to more credit? The break- 

 ing out of the Peloponnesian war, which involved 

 the inhabitants of Elis in the common cause, 

 appears to be a most inauspicious period for the 

 execution of so costly and laborious an under- 

 taking. Yet a very ingenious and plausible argu- 

 ment has been advanced, in order to show that 



