§2 CHARACTER OF FEMALE STATUES 



thelefs fometimes difficult to pronounce at once, whe- 

 ther the image be that of a god or a hero, or, even if 

 this be unqueftionable, which of the gods or heroes it 

 properly is. For, the reprefentations on antique mo- 

 numents, as on coins, on cameos and intaglias, or on 

 the bas-reliefs of farcophagufes and urns, which are 

 lefs liable to demolition or decay, very frequently oc- 

 cafion the fame perplexity to the rnoft expert connoif- 

 feurs. We have indeed general characteriftics, but 

 the application of them admits always of various ex- 

 ceptions. Thus, it is thought, that a quite naked fi- 

 gure, without all other attributes, is rather a gladiator 

 than a god ; becaufe the antients but feldom reprefent- 

 ed their divinities without giving them a drapery 

 thrown over their moulders. Sitting and recumbent 

 figures are rarely met with. The generality are Hand- 

 ing. It is therefore believed, that the reclining figures 

 rather belong to Olympus than others, as this pofture 

 is given them for expreffing the fweet repofe of the 

 gods. This is laid likewife to be particularly repre- 

 sented by the arm of the Apollo and the Hercules 

 thrown over their heads : Lucian mentions a Mercury in 

 the fame attitude. But the frequent figures in recumbent 

 poftures on farcophagufes, are manifeftly fomewhat 

 other than gods, and only denote the perfon at reft 

 within. It was formerly thought, that every figure 

 which held a patera in its hand reprefented a prieft or 

 a prieftefs ; but hnce gods and goddefTes have been 

 found with the patera in their hand, this characteriftic 

 is become more doubtful. 



Confider farther, t at it wis a very ufual cuflom 

 with the antients, to have themfelves portrayed under 



the 



