Research source

Keary, in his interesting volume on 'The Dawn of History,' [202] says that it has been suggested that the…

Date of account: Published 1879
Source: Demonology and Devil-lore
Reference: Demonology and Devil-lore · selected passage 181
Rights: public_domain
Language: English
Record updated: 2026-08-24

Record summary

Keary, in his interesting volume on 'The Dawn of History,' [202] says that it has been suggested that the youthful winged figure on the drum of a column from the temple of Diana at Ephesus to the British Museum, may be a representation of Thanatos, Death

Published source text

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Source passage

Source text · mention only

Mr. Keary, in his interesting volume on 'The Dawn of History,' [202] says that it has been suggested that the youthful winged figure on the drum of a column from the temple of Diana at Ephesus to the British Museum, may be a representation of Thanatos, Death. It would be agreeable to believe that the only important representation of Death left by Greek art is that exquisite figure, whose high tribute is that it was at first thought to be Love! The figure is somewhat like the tender Eros of preraphaelite art, and with the same look of gentle melancholy. Such a sweet and simple form of Death would be worthy of the race which, amid all the fiery or cold rivers of the underworld which had gathered about their religion, still saw running there the soft-flowing stream of forgetfulness. Let one study this Ephesian Thanatos reverently--no engraving or photograph can do it even partial justice--and then in its light read those myths of Death which seem to bear us back beyond the savagery of war and the artifices of priests to the simpler conceptions of humanity.

Historical context

Contextual commentary · mention only

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Modern context

Contextual commentary · mention only

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