Orpheus among the Animals on the Orpheus Monument in Ptuj: An Echo of the Ekphrasis by Philostratus the Younger?

Abstract

The article discusses the central motif of Orpheus among the animals on the Orpheus monument in Ptuj (Roman Poetovio) and its analogies with the imago that supposedly hung in a private gallery in Neapolis and was precisely described by Philostratus the Younger in his Εἰκόνες. Philostratus’ ekphrasis should (regarding the classification of the motif by Henri Stern) match the relatively rarely represented group II b and Orpheus should belong to the type of the so-called Phrygian Orpheus. According to Stern, an archetype for the whole group would be the panel painting, described by Philostratus the Younger or perhaps the more ancient one that influenced his ekphrasis. The best comparisons so far were pointed out to be the mosaics from Blanzy-lès-Fismes, from the unknown site in northern Syria, and Shahba. Interestingly, some of the animals (lion, boar, wolf, sheep, birds) and other details (branches with the sitting birds above the scene), especially mentioned in Philostratus’ description, are also present in the Orpheus stele in Poetovio. Nevertheless, his posture also corresponds completely to almost all of the representatives of group II b, as well as to the Philostratus’ ekphrasis.