A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

THEODORUS. THEODORUS. 1061
B. C. 600. [CHERSIPHON.] The most probable eDova, iepyov I KI. T. A.) will, we think, bear either
conclusion, then, (for anything like certainty is meaning. Of course no great weight can be
clearly unattainable,) we think to be this: that assigned to the statements of later writers, such
the genealogy and dates given under Rhoecus are as Strabo (xiv. p. 638), Pausanias (1. c.), Pollux
tolerably correct: that Rhoecus was the inventor (v. 100), and Clemens (Protrept. iii.- p. 247, ed.
of the casting of metals, and that this art was Sylburg), who assert that it was engraved, any
carried on by the family of which he was the head: more than to that of Pliny, who says that it was
that Rhoecus and his son Theodorus erected the not, and that the art of gem-engraving was invented
Heraeum and tile Lemnian labyrinth, and that the many years later. (H. N. xxxvii. 4.) This last
latter laid the foundation of the temple of Artemis: statement can be positively contradicted, so far uIs
that the younger Theodorus devoted himself more the East is concerned, by the account of Aaron's
especially to the task of perfecting the art of casting breast-plate (Eaxod. xxviii. 17-21), in which not
metals, and that this is the reason why he, rather only were the precious stones engraved, but they
than other members of the family, is mentioned, were "like the engravinsgs of a signet;" and other
with Rhoecus, at the head of that branch of art; evidence might be adduced to prove the very early
and that to this younger Theodorus should be use of engraved seal-rings in the East. Some eviascribed the silver crater of Croesus and the ring of dence that the art was known in the islands of the
Polycrates. We are quite aware of some minor Aegean, and particularly in Samos, even before the
obljections to this theory, which remain unanswered; time of Polycrates, is furnished by the tradition
but the subject, interesting as it is, both critically that the father of Pythagoras was an engraver of
and historically, has already been pursued almost seal-rings, aamcvA.to1yAvpo s (Diog. viii. 1; MNEbeyond the proper limits of.this article. SARCHus), and there is another tradition which
Another question, important in the early history would prove that it had been introduced at Athens
of Greek art, arises out of the statements respecting in the time of Solon. (Diog. i. 57.) Lastly, with
these Samian artists, namely, how far they were respect to bronze statues by Theodorus, Pausanias
affected by foreign influence. The story told by expressly says that he knew of none such (x. 38.
the Egyptians, and repeated by Diodorus, must be ~ 3. s. 6); but Pliny, on the contrary (H. iV.
received with great caution; but even those, who xxxiv. 8. s. 19. ~ 22), tells us that the same Theocontend most strongly for the native origin of dorus, who made the labyrinth, cast in bronze a
Greek art, admit that Telecles and Theodorus may statue of himself, which was equally celebrated for
have learnt some mechanical processes from the the excellence of the likeness and for its minute
Egyptians. But the fact is, that the point involved size. It held a file in the right hand, and a little
in the story relates not so much to mechanical quadriga in the left, the whole being so small as to
processes as to rules of proportion; for, il order to be covered by the wings of a fly, which formed a
accomplish the result stated, the precise proportions part of the work (tanctae pa)vitatis ut totasl earn
of the human figure must have been settled by rule, currzinque et azuriam inteyeret alis simnul tclat
as well as the precise attitude; and the question is, nmusca). It is obvious that a work like this could
whether the Greeks, at this early period, had esta- not belong to the age of Croesus and Polycrates.
blished such rules of proportion independently of Such productions of patient ingenuity were made at
the Egyptians. On the other hand, the statements a later period, as by MYRvMECIDES; and, considerwith respect to the invention of metal-casting ing how common a name Theodorus was, it seems
make it of purely native origin; whereas we know very probable that there may have been, at some
that it existed long before, among the Phoenicians, period, an artist of the name, who made such minute
for the two bronze pillars and various vessels of works, and that some thoughtless transcriber has
Solomon's temple are expressly said to have been introduced the words " qui labyrintzhun fecit."
cast in earthen moulds by Phoenician artists. To sum up the whole, it seems probable that
(] Kings vii. 46.) Now, when we remember that there were two ancient Samian artists named
an extensive commerce was carried on in very early Theodorus, namely:times by the Phoenicians in the Levant and the 1. The son of Rhoecus, and brother of Telecles,
Aegean, and also that Samos is said to have been flourished about B. c. 600, and was an architect, a
the earliest Grecian maritime state in those parts, statuary in bronze, and a sculptor in wood. Ile
a strong probability is established, that arts already wrote a work on the Heraeume at Samos, in the
existing in Egypt and Phoenicia may have been erection of which it may therefore be supposed that
transferred to Samos. The fulll discussion of these he was engaged as well as his father. Or, conquestions belongs to the general history of Greek sidering the time which such a building would
art: we will here only add that we believe the occupy, the treatise may perhaps be ascribed to the
Egyptian and Phoeniciam influence on Greece in younger Theodorus. He was also engaged, with
early times to have been lately as much undervalued his father, in the erection of the labyrinth of Lellas it was formerly exaggerated. nos; and he prepared the foundation of the temple
It only remains to explain one or two points of Artemis at Ephesus. We would also ascribe
connected with the works ascribed to these artists. to him the old Scias at Sparta. In conjunction
Besides the silver crater presented by Croesus to with his brother Telecles, he made the wooden
the Delphians, there was a golden one found by statue of Apollo Pythius for the Samians, according
Alexander among the treasures of the Persian to the fixed rules of the hieratic style.
kings, which was also said to be the work of 2. The son of Telecles, nephew of the elder
Theodorus of Samos. (Amynt. ap. Ath. xiv. p. Theodorus, and grandson of Rhoecus, flourished
515, a.) about B. C. 560, in the times of Croesus and PolyWith respect to the ring of Polycrates, it has crates, and obtained such renown as a statuary ill
been much disputed whether the stone in it was bronze, that the invention of that art was ascribed
engraved or not. The words of Herodotus (iii. 41, to him, inl conjunction with his grandfather. -ie
crypp-yis... XPUV'Oes-os, oyrapdyasov st'v AiOou also practised the arts of engraving metals (rop-u..
3Ybo