INTRODUCTION.
xxi
well-known bas-relief sculptured on the Arch at Rome, which was Indeed the vessels of the house of the erected by the conqueror. Lord were all of the most beautiful and costly character, and are very fully described.* " all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of read that all the vessels and of the house of the forest of Lebanon were gold, of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon."t
We
The
early Greeks were dexterous in working gold and silver, and refinement were very great, as early as six centuries before Christ. They were especially clever in using solder, or other metallic cement, by means of which they fixed on the level surface of the articles they made, excessively small pieces of gold, which enabled them to build up the tiny ornaments with which they
and
their skill
decorated their work. The great age of Greek art did not, however, commence until about 330 B.C., and the highest stage in the history of all art was reached about a century later. Amongst the most remarkable of the Greek sculptures were those composed of ivory and gold, known as chryselephantines. There were many of these in Greece, the most famous being those of Zeus at Olympia, of Hera at Argos, and of Athene at Athens, which was executed by Phidias about 433 B.C., and were of immense size. The framework of these figures was of olive wood, the faces and all uncovered parts were of ivory, while the dress was of gold, with beautifully wrought borders. Both ivory and gold were very thin, and in the case of Athene, at any rate, the golden drapery could be taken entirely off.J The statue of Zeus was said to be from fifty to sixty feet high, without reckoning the pedestal. The god was seated in a chair, in his right hand he held a life-sized Victory, and in his left a tall sceptre with the eagle. The Athene of the Parthenon was somewhat smaller. The goddess was standing, her helmet surmounted by a sphinx, and like the Zeus she held a life-sized Victory in her right, and a spear and shield in her left hand.
These colossal figures were most perfectly finished in every and were placed on pedestals, which were covered with
respect,
figures in relief.
The Greeks were also very skilful in making smaller articles, the enumeration of which would take us too far afield. Their golden shields, belts, helmets, and other pieces of armour were very celebrated. Diana, great of the Ephesians, was certainly a patroness of the " a man, Demetrie bi name a worcker silversrniths, for we read that in siluer makide siluer housis to Diane."|| And Shakespeare speaks of "Celestial Dian, Goddess Argentine." * t 11
48 et seq. f Id. x, 21. " Kings vii, Jupiter Olympieu," by Quartermere de Ouincy. "Deeds of the Apostles," xix, 21, Wydiffe's Version.
I
Pericles, v,
i,
251.