Pausanias ends his description of the Iliupersis with the epigram by Simonides that gives the authorship of the paintings to Polygnotos. (10.27.4)
Polygnotos, a Thasian by birth, son of Aglaophon,
Painted a picture of Troy's citadel being sacked.
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.
There is no doubt that an epigram existed, but its authenticity has been debated and is directly related to the issue of chronology which will be discussed later.
Introduction | Archaeology | Reconstruction | The Paintings | Layout and Design | Material and Color | The Iliupersis | Epigram by Simonides | The Nekyia | Chronology | Kimon | Knidos | Reflections in Other Media | The Niobid Painter | Drapery | Sculpture | Conclusion | Bibliography
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