Book 11
76
There is the Nestoris also. Now concerning the shape of the cup of Nestor, the poet speaks thus— Next her white hand a spacious goblet brings, A goblet sacred to the Pylian kings From eldest times; the massy, sculptured vase, Glittering with golden studs, four handles grace, And curling vines, around each handle roll'd, Support two turtle-doves emboss'd in gold. On two firm bases stood the mighty bowl, Lest the top weight should make it loosely roll: A massy weight, yet heaved with ease by him, Though all too great for men of lesser limb. Now with reference to this passage a question is raised, what is the meaning of glittering with golden studs:—and again, what is meant by the massy, sculptured vase four handles grace. For Asclepiades the Myrlean, in his treatise on the Nestoris, says that the other cups have two handles. And again, how could any one give a representation of turtle- doves feeding around each of the handles? How also can he say, On two firm bases stood the mighty bowl? And this also is a very peculiar statement that he makes, that he could heave it with ease, though all too great for men of lesser limb. Now Asclepiades proposes all these difficulties, and especially raises the question about the studs, as to how we are to understand that they were fastened on. Now some say that golden studs must be fastened on a silver goblet from the outside, on the principles of embossing, as is mentioned in the case of the sceptre of Achilles— He spoke,—and, furious, hurl'd against the ground His sceptre, starr'd with golden studs around; for it is plain here that the studs were let into the sceptre, as clubs are strengthened with iron nails. He also says of the sword of Agamemnon— A radiant baldric, o'er his shoulder tied, Sustain'd the sword that glittered at his side: Gold were the studs—a silver sheath encased The shining blade.
