SALOON. ] GRECIAN ANTIQUITIES. J22I 
Elgin collection : it represents Hercules preparing to strike Diomed, 
king of Thrace, whom he has already knocked down, and is holding by 
the hair of his head. 
At the sides of the Saloon, over the Phigalian frieze, are two pedi¬ 
ments, of precisely the same form and dimensions as those which deco¬ 
rated the eastern and western ends of the Temple of Jupiter F*anhelle- 
nius, in the island of iEgina, The ruins of this temple were visited in 
1811 by Mr. Cockerell and other gentlemen, and extensive and careful 
excavations were carried on, by which all the members and details of 
the cornice and mouldings have been ascertained; and the minute and 
accurate measurements then made have been the authorities from which 
these imitations have bee'll constructed. The greater part of the statues 
which adorned these pediments were at the same time discovered, and 
every circumstance illustrative of their original position, with relation to 
the architecture of the temple, was noted with as much accuracy as the 
case would admit. From the notes then made, and from long and 
careful study of the sculptures themselves, and the space which they 
occupied, Mr. Cockerell composed the groups very much in the mode 
in which they are now exhibited. From the violence with w T hich the 
temple had been destroyed, probably by an earthquake, all the statues 
had been in some degree mutilated, and some so entirely destroyed that 
it was in vain to attempt their restoration. Those w 7 hich were capable 
of repair were committed to the hands of Mr. Thorwaldsen, and in 
uniting the broken fragments, and restoring the parts of them that were 
deficient, that eminent artist has shown the greatest care and sagacity. 
The pediment at the north side of the room is taken from the western 
end of the temple; it contains ten figures, and it is supposed that there 
was originally one more, who was stooping down to assist the fallen 
warrior, who is wounded, at the feet of Minerva. The subject is sup¬ 
posed to be the contest between the Greeks and Trojans for the body of 
Patroclus. 
Of the figures which adorned the other pediment only five now re¬ 
main, and the loss of the rest is the more to be lamented, as the sculp¬ 
tures of this eastern end are of a much higher character than those of 
the western. From the few figures which are still spared to us, it appears 
that the subject of this picture w T as similar to that of the other pediment, 
modified only by the taste and skill of the artist. 
In this room are two sarcophagi ; one, found at Tarquinia, is deco¬ 
rated on all sides with sculptures, representing, on three sides, the sacri¬ 
fice of human victims; on one end, a gladiatorial exhibition. Within 
this sarcophagus were found the bones of the deceased, with his shield, 
and other armour. The other sarcophagus was found at Polomarzo. 
The cover is in form of a roof, terminating at the cornice with tiles, 
masks, &c. Upon the ridge of the roof are, at each end, a sphinx, and 
in the middle two serpents. All the sides are decorated with sculp¬ 
tures, amongst which, on the front are two genii, on the back a genius 
and an armed warrior. 
These sarcophagi, a torso of Venus of very fine sculpture purchased 
in 1821, an imperfect statue of Hymen purchased in 1831, and a few 
more articles, are not yet numbered, the arrangements of the Room not 
being completed. 
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