Commentary Prepared by Dr. Julia Lenaghan, Ashmolean Museum

A 119 D
Odysseus Slaying the Suitors; Trysa Heroon South Wall

Limestone
Architectural Relief
W (total) 761 cm

First discovered in 1841 but soon forgotten, the Trysa heroon was rediscovered in 1881 by Otto Benndorf, then Professor of Classical Archaeology in Vienna. In 1882/83 the friezes of the heroon were transferred to Vienna.
Austria, Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum
Late Classical, ca. 370 BC

Preservation:
The entire surface of the relief is heavily weathered.

Description:
The relief four male figures, all wearing himatia that are draped around their waist, and two klinai. To the left, shown frontally, is a man kneeling on the first kline. He holds an object, probably a small table, in front of him. Further to the right is another man, this time bearded, both his hands reaching for his back, followed by a third figure who faces to the left and stands in front of a second kline. He holds a mantle out before him. On the kline behind him lies a fourth man, again bearded, his left arm hanging downwards, the right held over his head. A drinking vessel lies on the floor below the kline.

Discussion:
Shown in this scene is the mayhem caused among the suitors by Odysseus’ forceful attack. Unarmed and taken by surprise they try to protect themselves from Odysseus’ arrows. The suitor to the left has taken hold of a small side table and uses it as a shield. His companion further to the right turns in anguish as he is wounded in his back. Another suitor has slid of the kline and tries to protect himself with his mantle. Further to the right, a fourth suitor seems already deadly wounded, his drinking vessel has slipped from his left hand and lies on the floor. For the Trysa heroon in general see A 119a.

Bibliography:
O. Benndorf and G. Niemann, Das Heroon von Gjölbaschi-Trysa (Vienna 1889) esp. 96-105 pls. 7-8 The basic first publication of the monument.
F. Eichler, Die Reliefs des Heroon von Gjölbaschi-Trysa (Vienna 1950) esp. 55-57 pls. 6-7 Detailed guide with a description of the monument and the individual reliefs.
R. Noll, Das Heroon von Gjölbaschi-Trysa. Ein fürstlicher Grabbezikr griechischer Zeit in Kleinasien [= Führer durch das Kunsthistorische Museum Nr. 16] (Vienna 1971) esp. 4 A short guide with a detailed description of the various reliefs.
W. A. P. Childs, "Prolegomena to a Lycian Chronology, II: The Heroon from Trysa" (RA 2 1976) 281-316 Gives a detailed stylistic comparison between the reliefs from Trysa and sculptures from the Greek mainland and the rest of Lycia. The Heroon at Trysa is dated to ca. 370 BC.
C. Bruns-Özgan, Lykische Grabreliefs des 5. Und 4. Jahrhunderts v. Chr. [= IstMitt Beiheft 33] (Tübingen 1987) 56-81; 256-257 pls. 9-11.2; 12-13.2 Argues that the friezes from Trysa show an advanced style of ca. 370 BC and are influenced by the iconography of Greek paintings of the Classical period, probably through the use of established pattern books.
B. S. Ridgway, Fourth-Century Styles in Greek Sculpture (London 1997) esp. 88-94 pls. 24-25 Good summary and bibliography of previous research on the heroon.