3-052-409 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Sculptured figure at Nymphi, near Smyrna, 1880. Example of '...ancient sculpture in Asia Minor...a figure carved in bas-relief on the rock, which seems to represent an armed warrior, in the act of walking, a spear in his left hand, a bow slung over his right shoulder. It has been conjectured to be one of those described by Herodotus, in "Euterpe," as having been intended to commemorate the Egyptian conquest of Sesostris, or Rameses II. But this seems now to be considered rather doubtful...The Illustration is drawn after a photograph by Rubelin, but the drawing is too precisely outlined, as the sculpture on the rock is much worn away by time. There are some marks above the head, which may have been a written inscription, and which have been supposed to be Egyptian hieroglyphics. Our Special Artist, Mr. William Simpson, in his Exhibition of drawings and sketches connected with Levantine archaeology,...expressed an opinion...that if this were the sculpture noticed by Herodotus, that historian would be mistaken in ascribing it to an Egyptian source; for it is certainly not Egyptian art, and there are no Egyptian hieroglyphics now visible; at least the marks above-mentioned cannot be identified as characters of that description'. From "Illustrated London News", 1880.