PORTLAND VASE

Evening Star, Issue 20217, 3 July 1929, Page 2

PORTLAND VASE

A HEW THEORY CHRISTIAN SYMBOLS Sinua fcha announcement was made recently that the world-renowned Port,land vjiso was to be sold by auction, i there lias been a revival of the old ' ; Hlobat4s as to the interpretation of the figures on the vase. Wedgwood, who studied tho vase closely, and copied it, leant to the opinion that the groups represented the death and resurrection of Adonis. Others thought that subjects connected with the Eleusinian mysteries were suggested. In tho end archteologicul opinion seemed settled that the story of Peleus wooing Thetis, with the introduction of Poseidon and Aphrodite as witnesses, was the subject of the masterly reliefs (says the Loudon ‘Daily Telegraph’), It will be recalled. that it used to bo behoved that the vase was found in a sarcophagus hold to be that in which were the ashes of Alexander Severus and his mother Mammaea. Bat the authorities ou art reject this theory, and claim that the craftsmanship of the vase points to a much earlier date than that of tho sarcophagus. Tho- distinguished scholar, Professor Prank Granger, of University College, [Nottingham, however, brushes aside these technical arguments, and claims an early Christian interpretation of the vase and its decoration. He, in fact, stoutly reaffirms the association of the vase with Alexander and his famous, mother, stating: “ We are on firmer ground when we turn to the interpretation of the vase. Alexander Severus, iu tho spirit of NeoPlatoism, combined many worships. The figures of Apollonius of Tyaua (a Pytlia-. gamin prophet of tho first century). Abraham, and Orpheus, were found with that of Christ among the images of the Imperial Chapel , “ Alexander’s mother, who gave birth

to the Emperor in a Syrian temple of Alexander -the Great, was inspired to add tli© name of Alexander to the other names of her son,, whose birth she interpreted in the spirit of tho legend about Olympia, the mother of Alexander the Great. The mysetrions serpent appears both in that legend and in many Christian heresies.

“ Mammaea, who came under iim influence of Origen, the Alexandrian heretic, influenced her son. It is possible to regard their joint rule, whicn for twelve years U.n. 222 to 231), gave toleration to the church and peace and (prosperity to the Empire, scarcely equalled before or since, as tho first Christian, Government known to the world.

“If, therefore, wo approach the subjects represented on tho vase' in the light of early Christian art, combined. »s it so often was, with the use of classical symbols, wc may discern with some probability some such intention as tho following:—On the one side Mammaoa is greeted by Alexander the Great on tho stops of his te;nplc, and tho scene indicates tha mysterious birth; of Alexander Severus. On tho other adds, Manumusa, in the attitude of the sleeping Ariadne of the Vatican (whose arm whs encircled by a serpent), holds an inverted torch, which might denote sleep. Dot the Fate, Clotho, with her spindle, seated behind Mamniaen, gives a funereal meaning to the .torch.. Tho object at Marnmaea’a feet may perhaps' b« a booh. 1

“ On the base of the vase is represented a youth in a Phrygian cqp with lits finger to his lips, probably Orpheus on his iiiynterioiiß errand, the descent into h«n. Him no imaginative believer” might well identify with Christ —an identuieatie for which there were many precedent*, 'the va»c thus may stand for Birth, Death, ami Immortality. Thete suggeii loirs aro _ made with no claim to certainty; but in the light of the whole circamstanecsof tho case tb*y >e«m to mo exceedingly probable;’'