Statue from the Nereid Monument

Marble statue probably representing a Nereid, which occupied one of the intercolumniations of the Nereid monument. The daughters of the sea-deities Nereus and Doris are known as Nereids. Numbering between 50 and 100, they were popular figures in Greek literature. They were believed to be personifications of the waves of the ocean, and benign toward humanity. The best known of the Nereids were Amphitrite, consort of Poseidon (a sea and earthquake god); Thetis, wife of Peleus, king of the Myrmidons, and mother of the hero Achilles; and Galatea. This figure is draped in a fine chiton (tunic), its folds enlivened by the rush of the sea breeze against her. A mantle falls over her left shoulder. She was carried along by a sea bird visible below the hem of her skirt. Her portrayal here is perhaps meant to suggest the means by which the soul of the deceased was transported to the afterlife. The statue is a representation of a draped female figure running to the right. She wears a long unbelted chiton with sleeves which appear to be continuous with a short diploidion that reaches to just below her breasts. This garment is confined by narrow strings passing over the shoulders. In her right hand she probably held part of the skirt and also, possibly, part of a large mantle which passes behind her back and over her left shoulder and is held in her left hand. A sea bird floating over the water with its wings spread appears below the bottom of the folds of the drapery. This figure differs considerably in style and costume from the other Nereids. Her head, right forearm and both feet are missing.这件大理石雕像大概率为一尊涅瑞伊得斯（Nereid）造像，曾安置于涅瑞伊得斯纪念碑（Nereid monument）的柱间空间内。海神涅柔斯（Nereus）与多里斯（Doris）的女儿们被称为涅瑞伊得斯，其数量在50至100位之间，是希腊文学中的经典形象。她们被视作海浪的人格化化身，对人类心怀善意。其中最广为人知的涅瑞伊得斯包括波塞冬（Poseidon，海洋与地震之神）的配偶安菲特里忒（Amphitrite）、密耳弥冬国王珀琉斯（Peleus）的妻子、英雄阿喀琉斯（Achilles）之母忒提斯（Thetis），以及伽拉忒亚（Galatea）。 该造像身着精致的希顿（chiton，古希腊长衫），衣褶因海风拂动而灵动鲜活。一件斗篷搭在其左肩之上。有一只海鸟在其裙摆下方可见，似乎托举着她一同前行。此处的造像或许意在寓意逝者灵魂被送往冥界的途径。 该雕像为一向右奔跑的着衣女性形象。她身着一件无束带的长款长衫，衣袖似乎与一件短款的迪普洛伊恩（diploidion）连为一体，该短罩衣下摆仅及胸部下方。这件衣装由绕过肩部的细带固定。她的右手大概率握持着裙摆的一部分，同时或许还握持着一件大斗篷的一部分——该斗篷从背后绕过，搭在左肩之上，并由其左手握持。在衣褶下摆的下方，可见一只展翅浮于水面的海鸟。 该造像的风格与服饰与其他涅瑞伊得斯造像存在显著差异。其头部、右前臂以及双脚均已缺失。