Note (return) — THE TEMPLE ON THE ACROPOLIS BURNT BY THE PERSIANS.

The first question which presents itself in the present consideration is: Why should these pedimental groups follow vase paintings? We might say that in vases we have practically the first products of Greek art; and further we might show resemblances, more or less material, between these archaic reliefs and vase pictures. But the proof of any connection between the two would still be wanting. Here the discoveries made by the Germans at Olympia and confirmed by later researches in Sicily and Magna Graecia, are of the utmost importance. 44 In the Byzantine west wall at Olympia were found great numbers of painted terracotta plates 45 which examination proved to have covered the cornices of the Geloan Treasury. They were fastened to the stone by iron nails, the distance between the nail-holes in terracottas and cornice blocks corresponding exactly. The fact that the stone, where covered, was only roughly worked made the connection still more sure. These plates were used on the cornice of the long side, and bounded the pediment space above and below. The corresponding cyma was of the same material and similarly decorated.