Themis, a study of the social origins of Greek ... - Warburg Institute

VIIl] The
l
Hero-Feasts' 309
On past interpretations, beginning with Winckelmann and
probably not yet ended with Prof. Gardner 1
, it is not necessary
long to dwell. All early interpretations fall under four heads.
The scenes on the reliefs are explained either as
(a) Mythological, e.g. Winckelmann interprets the banqueting
scene as the loves of Demeter-Erinys and Poseidon. These
mythological interpretations are now completely discredited.
(b) Retrospective and commemorative. They represent domestic
scenes in the daily life of the dead man, and thus are in line with
the scenes on ordinary Athenian grave-reliefs. The snake is
supposed to be a 'household snake.'
(c) Representative of the bliss of Elysium where the dead
Shall sit at endless feast.
1 I borrow my summary of these views from Prof. Gardner's admirable paper.
A Sepulchral Relief from Tarentum, in J. H. S., 1884, v. p. 105, where a full
bibliography of the subject will be found.