3799.] Conjectures concerning the Barberini or Portland Vafe. 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, , 
AVING lately met with a very 
ingenious differtation on the cele- 
brated Portland Vafe, written in German 
by A. F. Von Veltheim, I thought that 
an Englifh tranflation of it might be ac- 
ceptable tomany of your readers. 
D ais..0eCs 
is AG. 
London, Dec. 1798. > 
CONJECTURES CONCERNING THE BAR- 
BERINI OR PORTLAND VASE, 
THE many differtations which feve- 
ral learned. men and antiquaries have 
communicated to the world concerning this 
vale, are too well known to require a par- 
ticular enumeration. Mr. Wedgwood 
has, in his ‘¢ Dejcriptidn,’” &c. quoted 
almoft all the writers who have treated on 
the fubject. 
I mult, however, confefs, that none of 
their explanations entirely fatisfy me. 
On the contrary, I am convinced of the 
neceflity of examining and comparing 
every circumitance relative to the vate, 
efpecially the /arcophagus in which it was 
found, before we can judge of it with any 
appearance of truth. It is well known 
with what f{crupulous accuracy it has 
been imitated by Mr. Wedgwood:- fo 
that we are at a lofs, whether we fhould 
mott admire the original or the imitation. 
But the beft and~ mott complete repre- 
fentation of the va/e and farcophagus to- 
gether, is to be found in Piraneti’s “ dz- 
tichita di Roma.” tom. i1. tab. 31 to 35. 
and to theie I fhall here refer. © 
I mutt, however, previoully obferve, 
that in plate 34, the figures on the vate 
are improperly placed. The fitting female 
~ figure with the ftaff fhould be placed by 
_the fide of the recumbent one. On the 
vale, plate 35, and in Wedewood’s ** Ca- 
éalogue de Camies, S&c. p. 100, the re- 
prefentation is jut; but in the fame cata- 
logue this female is erroneoufly faid to 
holdafpear. Itisa flag, or fcepter: as is 
more accurately reprefented in Piranefi. 
My conjectures are the following : 
1. The dbaffo-reliewos round the farcophagus 
appear to reprefent the quarrel of Achilles 
with Agamemnon, on account of the fair 
Brifeis.—On the firft narrow-fide, plate 35, 
fits the fon of Atréus, taking Brifeis to him- 
felf; while fhe, as an embiem of this union, 
holds up the love-knot. Achilles, offended 
at this, immediately departs, and leaves the 
Grecian army. Il. .@ 322. 325. 345. 349. 
483. 491. and ii. 769772. 
Montruty Mac. No. xu, 
' 
97 
2. On the firft long-fide, plate 34, Achilles 
fits in a mournful pofture at the fea-fhore, 
having laid afide hisarms. An embaffy from . 
Agamemnon comes to him with prefents- 
Ulyffes and Phenix preflingly folicit him to, 
return to the camp. The latter, his old 
tutor, entreats him on his knees. He ob- 
dtinatelyretutes. Ty) y. nrg. 257." 2000 TOG. 
182. 185. 432. 433. 602. 
3. On the fecond narrow-fide, plate 35, 
Achilles has given his arms, horfes, and 
warriors to Patroclus, but refufes to accom= 
pany him. Il. gq. 22—-60. 126—156, 
On the fecond long-fide, plate 33. Ulyfles 
and the fons of Neftor bring Brifeis, with 
prefents of arms and horfes, unto the afiembled 
chiefs of the army: and Achilles is reconciled 
to Agamemnon, I. ¢. 238. 275. 
4. Onthe farcophagus, then, is reprefented 
the hiftory of an ancient hero, who, on the 
lofs of his love, falls into fuch a defperate 
melancholy, as nothing but the reftoration of 
his beloved, who had been torn from him, 
car remove.—la my opinion, a more beauti- 
ful ftory could not have been chofen by a 
Roman grandee, who dad. loft his tenderly- 
beloved wife, and ereéted to her a fepulcral 
monument, in which he meant to be again 
united to her. 
_ That the farcophagus was intended for 
this purpofe, appears to me ftill more 
probable from the cover: for, in the fore 
part, lies a female figure, with a funereal 
wreath in her hand; and, behind her, a 
man of a more advanced age, who half 
looks towards her.—On the farcophagus 
ftood but one fingle urn; namely, this 
fame Berberint or Portland vafe: on the 
bottom of which only one female figure 
is reprefented. 
According to this hypothefis, I explain 
the other figures of exquifite workman- 
{hip on the urn itfelf, in the following 
manner.—I think I clearly efpy in it the 
ftory of Alcefigé, whom Hercules brought 
to Admetus from the néther-world, 
On the firft fide, plate 34, 35, the re- 
clining female figure in the middle, with 
an inverted torch, is the dying Alcefté 
herfelf. By her fide fits her hufband Ad- 
metus, mournfully contemplating the ob- 
ject of his love, and abiorbed in the 
deepelt forrow. From the pillar, on which 
he Jeans, the principal ornament, its 
capital, is fallen, and lies at the feet of 
Alcefté; who feems looking toward the 
nether-world, from which fhe is feparated, 
only by an abyfs of water. On the op- 
polite fhore fits Proferpine with a royal 
{ceptre. The grief of Admetus feems to 
attraét her whole attention; and fhe dif- 
covers a willingne!s to confent to the re- 
turn of his wife. 
N On 
