Dickinson College Commentaries

The Brothers Poem

Read more about The Brothers Poem

ἀλλ’ ἄϊ θρύλησθα Χάραξον ἔλθην

νᾶϊ σὺν πλήαι. τὰ μὲν̣ οἴο̣μα̣ι Ζεῦς

οἶδε σύμπαντές τε θέοι · σὲ δ’ οὐ χρῆ

ταῦτα νόησθαι,4

ἀλλὰ καὶ πέμπην ἔμε καὶ κέλεσθαι

πόλλα λί̣σσεσθαι̣ βασί̣λ̣η̣αν Ἤ̣ραν

ἐξίκεσθαι τυίδε σάαν ἄγοντα

νᾶα Χάραξον8

κἄμμ’ ἐπεύρην ἀρτ̣έ̣μεας. τὰ δ’ ἄλλα

πάντα δαιμόνεσσ̣ιν ἐπι̣τ̣ρόπωμεν·

Herakles and the Stymphalian birds, attributed to the Diosphos Painter

Herakles (center) holds his lion skin draped over his left arm to act as a shield against the attacking Stymphalian birds. Four birds are in flight to the right of Herakles, a fifth is visible through his legs, and a sixth attacks from behind him. In his right hand Herakles carries a loaded sling and his arm is outstretched as if he is winding up to release it.

Euphronios Krater

Hypnos (foreground center left) and Thanatos (foreground center right) lift the body of Sarpedon (foreground center) overseen by Hermes (background center). Sarpedon bleeds from three wounds-one to the left pectoral, one to the lower right abdomen, and one to the right thigh. Hermes wears his winged helmet and carries his caduceus in his left hand. His right hand is raised, perhaps in direction. The scene is flanked by Laodamas and Hippolytos. All the characters are named by inscriptions.

Apollo seated with lyre, Farnese collection

Apollo sits on a rock holding his lyre in his left hand and plectrum in his right. He wears a long robe and a crown of olive(?) leaves on his head.

Diana hunting, detail of a fresco from the Via Livenza hypogeum

Diana stands (foreground center) in a forest flanked by two deer in the background. She holds a bow in her left hand and reaches over her shoulder to draw an arrow from her quiver with her right hand. She is dressed in a knee length tunic and calf-high boots.

Overview of the Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore, Eleusis

View over the excavations of the Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore from the base of the hill, including the area of the Telesterion.

Photo of the constellation Libra

Photo of the night sky with the constellation Libra outlined

Hades and Persephone holding court, detail from an Apulian red-figure krater

Hades and Persephone (center) sit on a couch in their palace. Persephone glances toward Hades who looks out at Hermes (upper right) and Orpheus (lower right). Hermes sits on a stool holding a hydria in his right hand and his caduceus in his left. Below him Orpheus stands holding a kithara in his right hand and plectrum in his left. Megara sits on a pedestal outside the palace(upper left) with her two sons. Below (lower left) a woman, possibly Hecate, stands holding torches in each hand.

Herakles presenting Cerberus to Eurystheus, detail of a black-figure hydria attributed to the Eagle Painter

Herakles (left), wearing his lion skin, holds his club in his right hand, and Cerberus' leash in his left. Cerberus (center) lunges toward a large storage jar (left) in which Eurystheus is hiding. Snakes coil in front of Cerberus' snouts and front paws.

Drölling: Orphée et Eurydice

Orpheus (left) naked except for a cloak, rushes towards Eurydice (foreground right) who falls into Mercury's arms (background right) to Hell. Orpheus' left hand is outstretched toward Eurydice, barely grazing her arm. His right hand is raised, palm toward the viewer in denial or supplication. Mercury is mostly obscured by shadow, identified by his winged helmet. A lyre lies on the ground at at Eurydice's feet.