Mythological fictions of the Greeks and Romans . nts, that ofApollo is one of the most sublime and lovely, becauseit dissolves the idea of a destmctive power in that ofyouth and beauty, tliu« combining in harmonious unitytw^o ideas entirely opposite. It seems to be owing tothis circumstance, too, that plastic art, in the most beau-tiful representation of Ap<)llo,t which as a sacred bequestof antiquity, was spared by all-destroying time, hasattained to a degiee of perfection which comprises in itall that is truly beautiful, the sight of which fills thesoul with admiration, because of the har
Mythological fictions of the Greeks and Romans . nts, that ofApollo is one of the most sublime and lovely, becauseit dissolves the idea of a destmctive power in that ofyouth and beauty, tliu« combining in harmonious unitytw^o ideas entirely opposite. It seems to be owing tothis circumstance, too, that plastic art, in the most beau-tiful representation of Ap<)llo,t which as a sacred bequestof antiquity, was spared by all-destroying time, hasattained to a degiee of perfection which comprises in itall that is truly beautiful, the sight of which fills thesoul with admiration, because of the harmonious mul-tiplicity which it expresses. Upon an antique gem, which, in its kind, is consider-ed as a masterpiece of Grecian art, Apollo is representedin the act of turning his lyre over the head of Pythia,who bears the sacrificial cup in her hand, as if inspiring * Hymn, in Apoll. 371. t This is the common interpretation : See Hymn to Apoll, ubi supOvids Metam. I. 447; but the name signifies also the Apollo Belvedere. I^ay^ //^r^^/V^^J r /n////rr/fY^/ . INIORITZ MYTHOLOGY, 71 the priestess with the heavenly harmonies that openedto her the times to come. Another representation, also,upon a gem, shows him leaning against an Attic pillar,with the bow in his left hand, and the lyre at his this image, one may behold the god who from theglittering bow shoots mortal arrows, but who likewisemingles with the chorusses of the Muses, and, by thehealing art, renovates the wounded body. NEPTUNE, POSEIDON. After the divine forms of Pontus, Oceanus, and Ne-reus, have retreated into shade, Neptune rises in lordlymajesty, holding the mighty trident in his hand, withwhich he calms the seditious floods, so that the traces ofhis weapon are to be found in the slight furrows of thetJanquil element. All that moves rapidly onward, affords the ruler ofthe waves pleasure. On land, he bends from his chariot-seat over his spirited steeds to encourage them ; and atsea, the swi
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1800, booksubjectmythologyclassical, bookyear1830
