Damophon
Family: Messenians · Role: statuary · First appears: Book 4 · Chapter 31
In Book 4, Chapter 31, Damophon, a Messenian statuary, received honors from the people of Elis for his artistic work on the Zeus at Olympia, repairing it when its ivory came loose. He also designed the statue called Laphria at Messene. The account attributes stone statues to him and says the iron effigy of Epaminondas was by another hand.
In Book 6, Chapter 22, Pyrrhus (son of Pantaleon) succeeded Damophon on the throne; Damophon is identified as the son of Pantaleon. Later, at Ægium in Book 7, Chapter 23, Damophon made the statue of Ilithyia and the statues of Hygiea and Æsculapius. In Book 8, Chapter 31, he made wooden statues of Hermes and Aphrodite, whose hands, head, and toes were stone. By Book 8, Chapter 37, he had made the statues of Despœna and Demeter and their throne, all of one piece of stone.
Relationship record
Life events
- Damophon received honors from the people of Elis for his artistic work on the Zeus at Olympia.(Book 4 · Chapter 31)
- “He too designed the statue that the people of Messene call Laphria: whom they are accustomed to worship for the following reason.”
- Pyrrhus succeeded his brother Damophon as king.(Book 6 · Chapter 22)
- With: Pyrrhus (son of Pantaleon) Pantaleon
- “But when Pyrrhus the son of Pantaleon succeeded his brother Damophon on the throne”
- Damophon created the statue of Ilithyia.(Book 7 · Chapter 23 · 📍 Ægium)
- With: Ilithyia
- “The statue is by the Messenian Damophon.”
- Damophon created the statues of Hygiea and Æsculapius.(Book 7 · Chapter 23 · 📍 Ægium)
- With: Hygiea Æsculapius
- “The iambic line on the basement says that they were by the Messenian Damophon.”
- Damophon made the temple statues of Hermes and Aphrodite.(Book 8 · Chapter 31)
- Damophon created the statues of Despœna and Demeter and their throne.(Book 8 · Chapter 37 · 📍 temple of Despœna)
- “They are by Damophon.”
Book 4 · Chapter 31
- with Zeus (interaction) “Damophon, who most artistically rivetted the Zeus at Olympia when the ivory got loose.”
- with Artemis (Damophon designed the statue of Artemis called Laphria.) “He too designed the statue that the people of Messene call Laphria: whom they are accustomed to worship for the following reason.”
- with Epaminondas (Damophon made the stone statues; Epaminondas's effigy was specifically by another artist.) “Those in stone are the work of Damophon, the only Messenian statuary that I know of that has produced any remarkable statues. The effigy of Epaminondas in iron is by another hand.”
- with Fortune (The preceding sentence lists a statue of Fortune among the statues made by Damophon.) “Those in stone are the work of Damophon, the only Messenian statuary that I know of that has produced any remarkable statues. The effigy of Epaminondas in iron is by another hand.”
Book 6 · Chapter 22
- parent: Pantaleon “And in the 48th Olympiad Damophon the son of Pantaleon gave the people of Elis reason to suspect that he intended to act treacherously against them, so they invaded Pisæa, but did not at this time do any damage, because they returned home again being persuaded by entreaties and promises.”
- siblings with Pyrrhus (son of Pantaleon) “But when Pyrrhus the son of Pantaleon succeeded his brother Damophon on the throne, then the people of Pisa of their own accord commenced war with the people of Elis.”
Book 7 · Chapter 23
- with Ilithyia (Damophon made the statue of Ilithyia.) “The statue is by the Messenian Damophon.”
- with Hygiea (Damophon made the statues of Hygiea and Æsculapius.) “The iambic line on the basement says that they were by the Messenian Damophon.”
- with Æsculapius (Damophon made the statues of Hygiea and Æsculapius.) “The iambic line on the basement says that they were by the Messenian Damophon.”
Book 8 · Chapter 31
- with Hermes (Damophon made the statue of Hermes.) “The statues in the temple were made by Damophon, Hermes’ in wood, and Aphrodite’s in wood, except her hands and head and toes, which are of stone.”
- with Aphrodite (Damophon made the statue of Aphrodite.) “The statues in the temple were made by Damophon, Hermes’ in wood, and Aphrodite’s in wood, except her hands and head and toes, which are of stone.”
Book 8 · Chapter 37
- with Demeter (Damophon made the statues.) “The statues of the Goddesses Despœna and Demeter, and the throne on which they sit, and the footstool under their feet, are all of one piece of stone: and neither about the dress nor on the throne is any portion of another stone dove-tailed in, but everything is one block of stone. ... They are by Damophon.”
- with Despœna (Damophon made the statues.) “The statues of the Goddesses Despœna and Demeter, and the throne on which they sit, and the footstool under their feet, are all of one piece of stone: and neither about the dress nor on the throne is any portion of another stone dove-tailed in, but everything is one block of stone. ... They are by Damophon.”
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Extracted from the original text of Pausanias' Description of Greece. Made with Rho MD.