. Encyclopaedia of religion and ethics. Fio. 11.—Coin of Miletus. Fio. 12.—Coin of Troas. of the supreme Deity, or as the great patron ofpurification, was a less easy subject for art. Inthe same way, Artemis as an archeress or as thequeen of the nymphs naturally attracted the artist,but Artemis as goddess of moisture and source ofthe springing powers of nature was less easy todepict. Thus the rendering of the gods in humanform did undoubtedly tend in a measure to limitthem, and to throw into the background thatwhich in them inspired awe rather than pleasantappreciation. Perhaps, however, we ma
. Encyclopaedia of religion and ethics. Fio. 11.—Coin of Miletus. Fio. 12.—Coin of Troas. of the supreme Deity, or as the great patron ofpurification, was a less easy subject for art. Inthe same way, Artemis as an archeress or as thequeen of the nymphs naturally attracted the artist,but Artemis as goddess of moisture and source ofthe springing powers of nature was less easy todepict. Thus the rendering of the gods in humanform did undoubtedly tend in a measure to limitthem, and to throw into the background thatwhich in them inspired awe rather than pleasantappreciation. Perhaps, however, we may makea few exceptions to this rule. Of the gold andivory colossus of Zeus at Olympia (fig. 13), Quin-tilian says that it added something to the acceptedreligion; and Dio Chrysostom in the 1st tells us how it aflected educated Fia. 13.—Coin of Elis. * Our Zeus is peaceful and prentle in all ways, as the over-looker of an undivided and united Hellas . . set up gentleand stately in form above all grief, giver of life and means oflivinp; and all good things, the common father and saviour andguardian of men, so far as it was possible for a mere man bymeditating to copy the divine and infinite nature. ... If anyman were utterly burdened in heart, after meeting in life manymisfortunes and troubles, a stranger to sweet sleep, even he,I think, standing before this image would forget all the terriblepains and sufferings of our mortal life (Oral. xii.). In the same way, the great statue of Athene Parthenos at Athens (fig. 14) concentrated about herself the patriotic ardour of the people of the city ; she was not only the deity who gave wisdom 1 Inst. Orat. xn. x. 9. in council and skill in craft, but she also embodiedthe common life, the destiny, the star of theAthenians, and all the better ;e she was a
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