Leon of Messalia

… the artist painted The vase with scenes funereal. Aristophanes, The Ecclesiazusae 997 Leon had noticed the ox-carts loaded with pink clay, which rumbled through the streets to the potters’…Read More >

… A sacred dell, Shut in with olive, vine and laurel, Where throbs the nightingale. Sophokles, Oedipus at Kolonos 16-18 One morning Leon was leaning against a pillar in the…Read More >

Dark Salamis, washed by the sea, For all time famous are thy shores Wherever Greeks assemble. Sophokles, Ajax 596-599 While at the masons’ yard Leon had noted a very old…Read More >

… the weighty marble columns. Euripides, The Bacchanals 591 Leon was waiting outside the inn when Diokles turned up with a staff and a bag of provisions slung over his…Read More >

…… column’s carven cap. Euripides, Orestes Diokles had talked about the masonry being prepared in the yards below the Akropolis and invited Leon to come and look round. He called…Read More >

… with cord pulled taut, The mason draws his line. Sophokles, The House of Atreus It was a hot day and Leon had climbed to the Akropolis, where the air…Read More >

A great necklace strung with Golden threads. Homeric Hymn 3.103–104 A few days after Leon had visited the gem cutter, he met him in the marketplace. They exchanged greetings and…Read More >

The tall cliffs high above the sea, Their bases deep in foam. Sophokles, Ajax Antikles had promised Leon to take him to a friend who was an engraver of gems….Read More >

I saw, one day, a-gathering flowers, A dainty little maid. Sappho Later that day Thalia asked a favour of Leon. Everyone said she should go to the temple of Niké…Read More >

… suddenly The solid earth beneath our feet Trembled and quaked Euripides, Iphigenia in Tauris 46 Leon was dreaming. He was on board ship and the weather was rough. He…Read More >