THE ROPE OF OCNUS
“The Rope of Ocnus” is tho name of a famous picture painted by Polygnotus, a Greek artist, who died about 426 B.C. He was the first who gave life, character and expression to pictures. According to Pliny, he opened the mouth and showed the teeth of his figures, and was the first to paint women with transparent draperies and rich headdresses. The picture represents Ocnus as a poor man, weaving a rope of straw, while behind him stands an ass consuming the other end of the rope. The lesson thus conveyed is said to have had a good effect upon the wife of Ocnus, whose extravagance had been his ruin, so that she became frugal and thrifty, and helped him to rise from penury to great prosperity. The phrase “like the rope of Ocnus’’ signifies profitless labour.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HBTRIB19350511.2.60
Bibliographic details
Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 124, 11 May 1935, Page 6
Word Count
141THE ROPE OF OCNUS Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 124, 11 May 1935, Page 6
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