Praxiteles
Family: Greek · Role: artist · First appears: Book 1 · Chapter 2
In Book 1, Chapter 2, Praxiteles is credited with statues of Demeter and Iacchus. In Chapter 20, when Phryne asked which of his works was finest, he offered her one as a lover but would not name it; she tricked him into revealing that it was Cupid, then selected it. Later, Phryne offered a gilt statue of herself made by Praxiteles.
The chapters also credit him with statues of Artemis, Aphrodite, Persuasion, Consolation, Chance, Leto, Dionysus, Hera, Athene, Hebe, and Rhea. Book 8, Chapter 9 places his work three generations after Alcamenes. In Book 9, he carved most of the Labours of Hercules, including a wrestling scene with Antæus, and made a marble statue of Eros.
Relationship record
Life events
- Phryne selected Cupid as Praxiteles’ finest work after tricking him into revealing it.(Book 1 · Chapter 20)
- Phryne offered a gilt statue made by Praxiteles.(Book 10 · Chapter 15)
- With: Phryne
- “The gilt statue of Phryne here was made by Praxiteles, one of her lovers, and was an offering of Phryne herself.”
Book 1 · Chapter 2
- with Demeter (Praxiteles produced the statue of Demeter.) “the statues in it are her and her daughter and Iacchus with a torch; and it is written on the wall in Attic letters that they are the production of Praxiteles”
- with Iacchus (Praxiteles produced the statue of Iacchus.) “the statues in it are her and her daughter and Iacchus with a torch; and it is written on the wall in Attic letters that they are the production of Praxiteles”
Book 1 · Chapter 20
- with Phryne (Praxiteles offered Phryne one of his works in the manner of a lover.) “they say that he offered to give it her like a lover, but would not say which he thought his finest work”
- with Phryne (Phryne deceived Praxiteles to discover which works he considered finest.) “Phryne then bade him stay and be of good cheer, for he had suffered no such loss, but it was only her artifice to make him confess which were his finest works.”
- courtship with Phryne “when Phryne once asked which was the finest of his works, they say that he offered to give it her like a lover, but would not say which he thought his finest work.”
Book 1 · Chapter 23
- with Artemis (interaction) “There is a temple of Brauronian Artemis, the statue the design of Praxiteles”
Book 1 · Chapter 40
- with Artemis (Praxiteles made an image of Artemis.) “Here too are images of the so-called 12 gods, the production of Praxiteles. He also made an Artemis of the Strongylii.”