Dickinson College Commentaries

Fresco: Cupid holding a rhombus

Venus sits on a chair or throne in the foreground dressed in a loosely draped garment. Mars stands behind the chair wearing a helmet with a large crest; some sort of cloak or cloth is draped over his left shoulder. He reaches around to grope Venus with his left hand. Venus reaches up with her left hand grasping his elbow. Cupid, shown as a winged cherub, hovers in the background holding a rhombus.

Drawing: Venus wounded by Diomedes

Diomedes (left) steps toward the left with right arm raised and pulled back preparing to stab Aeneas with his spear. Venus intervenes wrapping her right arm around Aeneas's waist and flying him away while warding off Diomedes with her left hand. Aeneas's left arm and shield are draped over Venus's shoulder, a sword hilt is visible in his right hand, but the blade is mostly out of frame.

Roman Cameo: Ajax seizing Cassandra

Cassandra clings to the statue of Athena, half sitting on its base as Ajax grabs her by the left shoulder with his right hand. On wears a helmet and bears a shield on his left arm. A chlamys is draped around his shoulders.

Wall painting: Ariadne waking on the shore of Naxos

Araidne (foreground center) lies on a mattress or pallet with a pillow as backrest. She supports herself on her right arm while raising her left, in which she holds a length of the cloth covering her, toward a ship sailing away in the background. In the stern of the ship the steersman points to the right away from Ariadne.

Roman Mosaic: Atalanta Hunting

Atalanta rides a galloping horse, bow held in her right hand with arrow nocked and ready. She wears ankle high boots, a knee-length tunic, and cloak. The cloak streams back behind her revealing the quiver on her back.

Flaxman: Ajax attacking the sheep

Ajax (center) steps forward with his left leg toward a flock of sleeping sheep (right). Holds a short sword or dagger high over his right soldier preparing to swing down. Athene hovering to the left and sightly behind Ajax, urges him on.

Achilles and Briseis Fresco, Pompeii

Achilles' surrender of Briseis to Agamemnon, from the House of the Tragic Poet in Pompeii, fresco, 1st century AD, now in the Naples National Archaeological Museum

Map of Magna Graecia

map of southern Italy

Chariton passage 1 read aloud (CF)

Apulian red-figure oenochoe depicting the Rape of Oreithyia by Boreas

Boreas, depicted as a bearded and winged man, grasps the struggling Oreithyia around the torso, lifting her into the air. Oreithyia left arm is free, raised above her head, perhaps to fight off Boreas or perhaps in supplication. Her right hand grabs at Boreas's hands locked around her chest. Her head is thrown back against Boreas's chest.