Pausanias Analysis

Next, Polygnotos depicted the daughters of Pandareos. Homer, in the speech of Penelope, relates how the parents of the maidens died through the anger of the gods, and that the orphaned girls themselves were raised by Aphrodite, who also received gifts for them from other deities: Hera granted them intelligence and beauty, Artemis bestowed height upon their bodies, and Athena taught them the crafts suitable to women.

Aphrodite, then, ascended to heaven, wishing to arrange for her daughters a fortunate marriage through Zeus; but during her absence, the maidens were seized by the Harpies and handed over by them to the Erinyes. These details concerning them are described by Homer, whereas Polygnotus painted the girls crowned with flowers and playing with knucklebones, and gave their names as Cameiro and Clytie. As for Pandareos, let one know that he was a Milesian from Miletus in Crete and was guilty of wrongdoing involving theft together with Tantalus, and took part in the deception regarding an oath.

After the daughters of Pandareos stands Antilochus, keeping one foot upon a rock, and supporting his face and head on both his hands. After Antilochus is Agamemnon, leaning with a scepter under his left armpit and holding up a staff in his hands. Protesilaus sits gazing toward Achilles; Protesilaus is posed in this manner, and behind Achilles stands Patroclus. Of these figures, all except Agamemnon are portrayed without beards.

Depicted above these figures are Phocus, portrayed as still youthful in age, and Iaseus, who has a fine beard and is shown removing a ring from the left hand of Phocus. The story behind this scene is as follows: when Phocus, son of Aeacus, moved from Aegina to the region now called Phocis, acquired power over the inhabitants of that part of the mainland, and resolved to settle there, he grew particularly close in friendship to Iaseus. Among other gifts which Iaseus naturally bestowed upon him was a seal-stone bound in gold. Not much later, however, when Phocus returned to Aegina, Peleus immediately plotted his death. It is for this reason, in memory of their friendship, that the painting depicts Iaseus eagerly examining the seal-stone, and Phocus tolerantly permitting him to take it.

Above these is Maira, seated upon a rock. Concerning her, it is told in the "Returns" ("Nostoi") that she departed from among mortals while still a maiden, and that she was the daughter of Proitos, son of Thersandros, who himself was a son of Sisyphos. Next to Maira is Actaion, son of Aristaios, along with Actaion’s mother; they hold in their hands a fawn of a deer and sit upon a deer’s hide. Beside them lies a hunting dog, in reference to Actaion’s life and the manner of his death.

Looking again toward the lower part of the painting, next after Patroclus is depicted Orpheus sitting as if upon some hillock; he touches a lyre with his left hand, while with his other hand he grazes a willow. It is the branches of the tree he touches, and he leans against it. The grove appears to be the grove of Persephone, where poplars and willows have grown, following the Homeric tradition. Orpheus himself is portrayed in Greek manner: neither his clothing nor the covering upon his head is Thracian.

Leaning against one side of the willow tree itself is Promedon. There are indeed some who believe that the name Promedon was introduced by Polygnotus as a poetic fiction; but others claim that it refers to a Greek man who was exceedingly fond of music in general, and particularly devoted to the songs of Orpheus.

In this portion of the painting is depicted Schedios, who led the Phocians against Troy, and next to him is Pelias, seated upon a throne, gray-haired in beard as well as head, gazing toward Orpheus. Schedios holds a dagger and has a wreath of grass upon his head. Beside Pelias sits Thamyris, whose eyes appear blinded and whose whole bearing is humbled. His hair is abundant upon his head, and plentiful also is his beard. A lyre lies thrown at his feet, its arms shattered and its strings broken.

Above this stands Marsyas seated upon a rock, and near him Olympus is depicted in the form of a handsome youth learning to play the flute. The Phrygians at Celaenae claim that the river which flows through their city was formerly that very flute-player; they also assert that the flute-melody sacred to the Mother was Marsyas' invention. Furthermore, they say that Marsyas repelled the invasion of the Galatians by coming to their aid against the barbarians, using both the water from the river and the music of his flutes.