Page:History of Art in Primitive Greece - Mycenian Art Vol 2.djvu/251

 2o8 Primitive Greece : Mycenian Art. details are rendered indistinct by the play of light and shade ; whereas the archaeologist can "feel" and hold up the piece itself to every light, and thus often succeeds in detecting shades of meaning where mechanical appliances have failed. Hence it is that ReicheFs linear drawings from the original stelae contain every stroke ever traced by the chisel. Despite their meagre appearance and want of breadth, we shall turn to them whenever they are found to supplement lacunae in Schliemann's engravings. We will begin with the most ornate of the cippi, that which stood over the fifth grave. The upper part of the stela is gone ; the field containing the figures is bounded at the sides by spirals, and filled up below with three narrow plain bands, separated by as many salient bars. Towards the top of the picture is a chariot mounted by a man. The chariot-box is quite low, and seems to rest on a four-spoked wheel. The Jehu is fully armed ; his right hand rests on a dagger stuck in his belt, and his left holds the reins, which are plainly seen between the hand and the galloping horse, under whose body appears a prostrate warrior. We shall meet again in other works the great shield which conceals the whole body of the fallen warrior, and reaches to his chin. We see lines on the face that may perhaps stand for a crested helmet. Beneath this group are two more figures, a lion seemingly in pursuit of an antelope, with a short tail and long horns ; the latter animal returns in other J monuments of this art. Moved by the horror vacui, the artist ' 7 ^ ^' filled the remaining space (PI. XVI. i),* on the left with some kind of bush, whilst big dots, irregularly spaced on the right, are perhaps meant for stony ground. The rocks figured on the Vaphio vases are rendered in pretty much the same fashion , (Figs- 362, 363, and PI. XV.). We have very similar repre- ' ' sentations on a pair of stelae belonging to this same grave. One is almost complete ; at any rate nothing is wanting to the picture which forms the interest of the cippus (Fig. 355), and which is enclosed by a double listel. Another narrow band in- terposes between the bas-relief and a space covered with spirals joined to one another in elevation and plan. The chariot, ^ In Schliemann's engraving we see the hair of the mounted warrior, and perhaps a waving plume on his head. At this ix)int, since then, a piece of the stela has come away, and the detail can no longer be tested. On the other hand, the warrior who has fallen on his back is invisible in Schliemann's drawing. . ^ ^