The Lesche of the Knidians: Issues of Chronology

Chronology

The paintings by Polygnotos in the Lesche of the Knidians at Delphi are generally attributed to the first half of the fifth century B.C. A more precise date is difficult to pin down, but would be extremely helpful in determining the funding, patronage and political issues surrounding the construction of the Lesche.

Map of Aegean

Polygnotos came from the Ionian island of Thasos. His art is influenced by the Ionic tradition, but Polygnotos, who came to Athens shortly after the Persian Wars, was greatly influenced by the intellectual and artistic atmosphere of Athens. Literary records tell us of many public buildings in Athens that were painted by Polygnotos. The Stoa Poikile, completed by c. 460 B.C. contained a smaller version of the Iliupersis. Traditionally, the Stoa Poikile version is thought to be an earlier work, claiming to be "the first building in the history of Western art deliberately designed to display paintings." (Morris 1992: 313) Recently, Kebric challenged this accepted chronology and placed the creation of the Lesche paintings at c. 469 B.C. He supports this theory with an analysis of the epigram by Simonides and the historical event that must have led to the funding by the Knidians of the Lesche, namely the Battle of the Eurymedon River.

Simonides

The epigram, "Polygnotos, the Thasian, son of Aglaophon, painted Troy's citadel sacked", was attributed by Pausanias to Simonides. Simonides died in 468 B.C. and if the Lesche was painted after the Stoa Poikile, this would eliminate Simonides as the epigram's author. But, if the Lesche was painted before 468 B.C., then Simonides could have authored the couplet.