Polybotes

To Do edit

New Text edit

Notes edit

References edit

Sources edit

Ancient edit

Apollodorus, 1.6.2

Polybotes was chased through the sea by Poseidon and came to Cos; and Poseidon, breaking off that piece of the island which is called Nisyrum, threw it on him.5

Strabo, 10.5.16

They say that Nisyros is a fragment of Cos, and they add the myth that Poseidon, when he was pursuing one of the giants, Polybotes, broke off a fragment of Cos with his trident and hurled it upon him, and the missile became an island, Nisyros, with the giant lying beneath it. But some say that he lies beneath Cos.

Pausanias, 1.2.4

Not far from the temple is Poseidon on horseback, hurling a spear against the giant Polybotes, concerning whom is prevalent among the Coans the story about the promontory of Chelone. But the inscription of our time assigns the statue to another, and not to Poseidon.

Hyginus, Fabulae Preface

From Earth and Tartarus, Giants: Enceladus, Coeus, *elentes, *mophius, Astraeus, Pelorus, Pallas, Emphytus, Rhoecus, *ienios, Agrius, *alemone, Ephialtes, Eurytus, *effracorydon, Themoises, Theodamas, Otus, Typhon, Polybo[e}tes, *menephriarus, *abesus, *colophonus, Iapetus.

Modern edit

Arafat

p. 16
In fact the only absolutely consistent feature in art and literature is that Poseidon's opponent is Polybotes (e.g. passage 1 [Apoll. 1.6] and Strabo 10.5.16), although his use of Nisyros is not invariable.
p. 24
However, Poseidon is made prominent by his position in the tondo [of Berlin F2531] where he is about to drive his trident into Polybotes. Both are named, as is Ge, rising from the ground behind Poseidon.
p. 25
It is an indication of the consistency of the tradition of Poseidon's role in the Gigantomachy that in all the literary accounts and on all the vases where he is named his opponent is Polybotes, even where, as here [Berlin F2531], he does not use Nisyros against him.

Cook

note 3 pp. 13–18
According to the oldest accessible form of the myth 'Polybotes, chased through the sea by Poseidon, came to Kos; whereupon Poseidon, breaking off a piece of that island now called Nisyros, hurled it upon him' (Apollod. 1.6.2, cp. Strab. 489, Eustath. in Dionys. per. 525, Plin. nat. hist. 5. 133 f.). A variant version tells how Polybotes when struck by Zeus, started to swim, and how Poseidon flung a trident at him but failed to hit, the missile becoming the island Nisyros or Porphyris (Steph, Bys. s.v. Νισυρος (= Eudok. viol. 764, Favorin. lex. pp. 3111, 14 f., 1536, 18 ff.)). Black-figured vases regularly show Poseidon moving from left to right and bearing on his left shoulder the mass of rock with which he is about to overwhelm his opponent (Overbeck op. cit. p. 328 ff. enumerates fourteen such vases). But only one vase, an Ionian amphora, adds the name Polybotes (supra ii. 713 pl. xxx). Red-figured vases of the strong style (c. 500–460 BC) give Poseidon in the same attitude, but further character his rock as the island by representing on it an assortment of land- and sea-creatures (Overbeck op. cit. p. 330 f. lists eight such vases. Typical are (1) ...

Hanfmann

p. 476
It has furthermore been deduced from the words "with a mill stone" that Alcman described how Poseidon crushed the giant Polybotes with a rock torn from the island of Cos, which thereafter became the island of Nisyros

Frazer, p. 48

Moore 1989, p. 33 ff.

Vian and Moore

p. 192
Alcman (Page PMG frg. 1. 31) pourrait faire allusion à Poseidon portant l'île de Nisyros.
[Google translate] Alcman (Page PMG frg. 1. 31) could refer to Poseidon carrying the island of Nisyros.


Black-Figure Vases edit

Theoi POLYBOTES

Getty 81.AE.211 Black-Figure edit

Beazley Archive 10047
Polybotes named
Polybotes inscription
LIMC Gigantes 171
Moore, pp. 21–40
Moore 1989, pp.33 ff.

Louvre E732 Black-Figure Amphora edit

LIMC Gigantes 170
LIMC Gigantes 170 image 4/4
Beazley Archive 14590
575–525 BC
Gantz, p. 451
Polybotes named
Cook, p. 14
Black-figured vases regularly show Poseidon moving from left to right and bearing on his left shoulder the mass of rock with which he is about to overwhelm his opponent (Overbeck op. cit. p. 328 ff. enumerates fourteen such vases). But only one vase, an Ionian amphora, adds the name Polybotes (supra ii. 713 pl. xxx).

Louvre F226 Black-Figure Neck Amphora edit

 
Poseidon versus a Giant (probably Polybotes), black-figure neck amphora c. 550–500 BC (Lourve F226).[1]
Beazley Archive 301546
-550 to -500
LIMC Gigantes 269c

Metropolitan Museum, 98.8.11 Vlack-Figure AMPHORA, NECK edit

Beazley Archive 301545
POSEIDON WITH ROCK (NISYROS), AND GIANT, FALLING WITH BOEOTIAN SHIELD
LIMC Gigantes 269a

Munich 1437 Black-Figure Neck Amphora edit

Beazley Archive 745
-575 to -525
Decoration: A: GIGANTOMACHY, ARES AND GODDESS IN CHARIOT, ATHENA, GIANTS B: GIGANTOMACHY, POSEIDON WITH NISYROS, ATHENA, GIANTS
LIMC Gigantes 126
Perseus
c. 540 BC

Munich 1485 Black-Figure Neck Amphora edit

Beazley Archive 302287
-550 to -500
Decoration: A: GIGANTOMACHY, ZEUS WITH THUNDERBOLT, HERAKLES, BOTH IN CHARIOT, ATHENA, GIANTS, SOME FALLING, DEVICE, BUKRANION B: GIGANTOMACHY, POSEIDON WITH NISYROS, GIANTS, SOME FALLING, SHIELD DEVICES, IVY WREATH, DISCS

Red-Figure Vases Late 6th c. edit

Athens Akropolis 2.211 Red-Figure Cup Fragments (by Leagros Group) edit

Beazley Archive 200125
-550 to -475
Named: [EU]RYBOTOS, [or POLYBOTES?]
CAVI Inscriptions: Between an outstretched giant and Poseidon: [Ευ]ρ̣υβοτος?
LIMC Gigantes 299
Arafat,
p. 15
On 1.7 [Akr 2.211] the names of Zeus, Hephaistos, and Apollo are preserved (at least in part), and Poseidon's presense is assured by the inscription [P]olybot[es];
p. 16
On 1.23 [British Museum E 47] Hephaistos fights Euryalos, whereas on 1.7 [Akr 2.211] Euryalos is named and his opponent is certainly not Hephaistos, who is named and fighting elsewhere.
p. 183
c.520–500

Red-Figure Vases 5th c. edit

Berlin F2531 Red-Figure Cup (from Vulci) (by Aristophanes) edit

Beazley Archive 220533
Gaia, Poseidon and Polybotes
450–400 BC
Named: Ephialtes, Enceladus, Gaion, Phoitos, Polybotes, Porphyrion, Mimon
LIMC Gigantes 318
Gaia, Poseidon and Polybotes: LIMC Gigantes 318 image 3/4
Arafat
p. 25
It is an indication of the consistency of the tradition of Poseidon's role in the Gigantomachy that in all the literary accounts and on all the vases where he is named his opponent is Polybotes, even where, as here, he does not use Nisyros against him.
However, Poseidon is made prominent by his position in the tondo where he is about to drive his trident into Polybotes. Both are named, as is Ge, rising from the ground behind Poseidon.
p. 186
c.420-400
Cook,
p. 56
(1) a kylix by the potter Erginos and the painter Aristophanes, found at Vulci and now at Berlin ...
Plate VI
(A) Poseidon attacks Polybotes in the presence of Ge
(B) Ares v. Mimon, Apollo v. Ephialtes, Hera v. Phoitos
(C) Artemis v. Gaion, Zeus v. Porphyrion, Athena v. Enkelados.
Weller,
pp. 268–269
Fig. 168 Ge rising from the ground, contest of Poseidon and Polybotes; vase of Erginus and Aristophanes [Image showing inscriptions]
the form of a matronly woman. the personification of Earth, rising from the gorund with arms uplifted, as in various ancient representations (fig. 168).
Perseus Berlin F 2531 (Vase)
410–405 BC
Interior: Poseidon and giant. Poseidon battles with Polybotes, who has fallen onto one knee. Poseidon threatens him with his raised trident and grabs hold of his neck. Polybotes responds by holding onto Poseidon's left arm, the one around his neck. Ge, rising from the ground on the left, gazes up at Poseidon, her hands held up, palms outward. Poseidon is naked but for a mantle draped over one arm. He also wears a wreath. Polybotes wears a chiton, cuirass and a crested helmet, and carries a shield and spear. Both men are bearded. Ge wears a chiton and a diadem.
Polybotes
Aristophanes' cup: Drawing of the tondo, showing Ge, Poseidon, and Polybotes [showing inscriptions]
Theoi

Berlin F2293 Red Figure Kylix Vulci edit

Beazley Archive 203909
LIMC Gigantes 303 = Poseidon 180
LIMC Gigantes 303 image 3/6
Cook, p. 14
(2) a kylix from Vulci, now at Berlin ... attributed to 'the Brygos painter' ...
Cook, p. 15 fig. 3

Ferrara 2892 (T300) Red Figure Calyx Krater edit

Beazley Archive 213529
-475 to -425
Named: PO[LYBOTES]
LIMC Gigantes 315
Arafat
p. 186
c.450-440

Paris, Cabinet des Medailles, 573 Red Figure Kylix Vulci edit

 
Poseidon (left) holding a trident, with the island Nisyros on his shoulder, battling a Giant (probably Polybotes), red-figure cup c. 500–450 BC (Cabinet des Medailles 573).[2]
Beazley Archive 204546
-500 to -450
Cook, p. 14
(3) a kylix from Vulci, now at Paris, assigned by Hoppin to 'the Brygos paniter' ...
Plate III, A

Vatican 84 Attic Red-Figure Amphora Vulci edit

Beazley Archive 202472
-500 to -450
DIOGENES P by BEAZLEY
Cook p. 14
Typical are (1) an Amphora from Vulci, now in the Vatican ...
Cook Plate II
Theoi

Vienna 688 Attic Red-Figure Column Krater [EPHIALTES] edit

Beazley Archive 202916
-500 to -450
(POSEIDON) WITH ROCK AND GIANT (EPHIALTES)
LIMC Gigantes 361
Cook, pp. 14–18
Only one of the red-figured vases names the Giant, and this calls him not Polybotes but Ephialtes
Cook, p. 17 fig. 5 [image]
Theoi [image]

Williams 64.9 Attic Red-Figure Stamnos edit

Beazley Archive 275166
Poseidon vs. Polybotes? [No inscriptions?]
-500 to -450
Troilos Painter
(no inscription?)
Perseus Williams 64.9
Side A: Poseidon versus Polybotes?
Polybotes
ca. 500 BC - ca. 475 BC
Attributed to the Troilos Painter
Side A: Poseidon vs. Polybotes Side B: komos
Theoi

Notes edit

  1. ^ Beazley Archive 301546; LIMC Gigantes 269c.
  2. ^ Beazley Archive 204546; Cook, Plate III, A.