[5]
But to return to that private chapel; there was this statue, which I am speaking
of, of Cupid, made of marble. On the other side there was a Hercules, beautifully
made of brass; that was said to be the work of Myron, as I believe, and it
undoubtedly was so. Also before those gods there were little altars, which might
indicate to any one the holiness of the chapel. There were besides two brazen
statues, of no very great size, but of marvellous beauty, in the dress and robes of
virgins, which with uplifted hands were supporting some sacred vessels which were
placed on their heads, after the fashion of the Athenian virgins. They were called
the Canephorae, but their maker was.... (who? who was he? thank you, you are quite
right,) they called him Polycletus. Whenever any one of our citizens went to
Messana, he used to go and see these
statues. They were open every day for people to go to see them. The house was not
more an ornament to its master, than it was to the city.
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M. Tullius Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, literally translated by C. D. Yonge. London. George Bell & Sons. 1903.
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