Note 584 — Chapter II · GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF VICTOR STATUES AT OLYMPIA.

H. N., XXXIV, 58 (S. Q., 533): Numerosior in arte quam Polyclitus et in symmetria diligentior. The interpretation of this disputed passage depends, of course, on the meaning of numerosior, and whether we accept the curious statement of the manuscript that Myron surpassed Poykleitos in symmetry, or, by omitting the et (with Sillig), make it mean just the contrary and in harmony with the usual ancient view that symmetry was the salient characteristic of Polykleitan art. The passage, then, would contrast the symmetry of Polykleitos with the variety of Myron. This accords with Pliny’s use of numerosus elsewhere (e. g., XXXV, 130 and 138), which always refers to number. See Gardner, Hbk., p. 275 (note).