Note 197 — Chapter V · EURIPIDES AND VASE PAINTING

The remarkable feature in these reliefs that shows non-Euripidean influence is the letter which the old nurse hands to Hippolytos. This points to another handling of the myth, where the former confined herself to a written statement rather than a word of mouth proposal. Strikingly in harmony with Euripides, however, is the position of the trophos. She grasps Hippolytos’ elbow—ναὶ πρός δε τῆσδε δεξιᾶς εὐωλένου (v. 605). Cf. also the Pompeian wall painting, Mus. Borbonico, 8, pl. 52. This and other wall paintings represent the scene between Hippolytos and the nurse as taking place in the presence of Phaidra, who sits quite alone.