prudent advice of Pericles, had executed the work in such a manner that the gold might easily be removed, and it was ordered by Pericles to be carefully weighed before the people. As might have been expected, this test was not required, and the malicious accusation was overthrown. They then declared the sculptor guilty of sacrilege in placing his own portrait upon the shield of Minerva; and some writers state that he was thrown into prison; others, that he was banished.
THE JUPITER OF PHIDIAS.
Phidias fled from Athens to Elis, where he was
employed to execute a costly statue of the Olympian
Jupiter, for the temple in Altis. This statue was
the most renowned of all the works of Phidias. It
was of colossal dimensions, being sixty feet in height;
and seated on a throne; the head was crowned with
olive; the right hand held a small statue of Victory,
in gold and ivory; the left hand grasped a golden
sceptre of exquisite workmanship, surmounted by
an eagle; the sandals and mantle were also of the
same material, the latter sculptured with every description
of flowers and animals; the pedestal was
also of gold, ornamented with a number of deities
in bas-relief. In the front of the throne was a representation
of the Sphynx carrying off the Theban
youths; beneath these, the Fate of Niobe and her
Children; and, on the pedestal joining the feet,
the Contest of Hercules with the Amazons, embra-
