{"id":675,"date":"2015-10-15T18:08:44","date_gmt":"2015-10-15T18:08:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.candelalearning.com\/zelixart102\/?post_type=chapter&p=675"},"modified":"2015-10-29T18:02:32","modified_gmt":"2015-10-29T18:02:32","slug":"death-of-sardanapalus","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-arthistory2\/chapter\/death-of-sardanapalus\/","title":{"raw":"Death of Sardanapalus","rendered":"Death of Sardanapalus"},"content":{"raw":"Delacroix's painting\u00a0The Death of Sardanapalus<\/em>\u00a0was inspired by the great Romantic poet Lord Byron's 1821 play, Sardanapalus<\/em>.<\/i> The following is an except:\r\n

OFFICER.\r\nThe wall which skirted near the river's brink \u2028is thrown down by the sudden inundation\r\nOf the Euphrates, which now rolling, swoln \u2028From the enormous mountains where it rises,\r\nBy the late rains of that tempestuous region,\r\nO'erfloods its banks, and hath destroy'd the bulwark.\r\n\r\n

PANIA.\r\nThat's a black augury! it has been said\r\nFor ages, \" That the city ne'er should yield \"To man, until the river grew its foe.\"<\/p>\r\n

SARDANAPALUS.\r\nI can forgive the omen, not the ravage. \u2028How much is swept down of the wall?\r\n\r\n

OFFICER.\r\nAbout\r\nSome twenty stadii.<\/p>\r\n

SARDANAPALUS.\r\nAnd all this is left\r\nPervious to the assailants?<\/p>\r\n

OFFICER.\r\nFor the present\r\nThe river's fury must impede the assault;\r\nBut when he shrinks into his wonted channel,\r\nAnd may be cross'd by the accustom'd barks,\r\nThe palace is their own.<\/p>\r\n

SARDANAPALUS.\r\nThat shall be never. Though men, and gods,- and elements, and omens,\r\nHave risen up 'gainst one who ne'er provoked them,\r\nMy fathers' house shall never be a cave For wolves to horde and howl in....<\/p>\r\n

SARDANAPALUS.\r\nYou have done your duty faithfully, and as\r\nMy worthy Pania! further ties between us\r\nDraw near a close. I pray you take this key:\r\n[Gives a key.It opens to a secret chamber, placed\r\nBehind the couch in my own chamber. (Now\r\nPress'd by a nobler weight than e'er it bore\u2014\r\nThough a long line of sovereigns have lain down\r\nAlong its golden frame\u2014as bearing for\r\nA time what late was Salemenes.) Search<\/p>\r\n

The secret covert to which this will lead you;\r\n'Tis full of treasure; take it for yourself\r\nAnd your companions: there's enough to load ye,\r\nThough ye be many. Let the slaves be freed, too;\r\nAnd all the inmates of the palace, of\r\nWhatever sex, now quit it in an hour.\r\nThence launch the regal barks, once form'd for pleasure,\r\nAnd now to serve for safety, and embark.\r\nThe river's broad and swoln, and uncommanded\r\n(More potent than a king) by these besiegers.\r\nFly! and be happy!<\/p>\r\n

PANIA.\r\nUnder your protection! So you accompany your faithful guard.<\/p>\r\n

SARDANAPALUS.\r\nNo, Pania! that must not be; get thee hence, \u2028And leave me to my fate...\r\n\r\n

SARDANAPALUS.\r\n'Tis enough. Now order here \u2028Faggots, pine-nuts, and wither'd leaves, and such \u2028Things as catch fire and blaze with one sole spark; \u2028Bring cedar, too, and precious drugs, and spices, \u2028And mighty planks, to nourish a tall pile; \u2028Bring frankincense and myrrh, too, for it is \u2028For a great sacrifice I build the pyre; \u2028And heap them round yon throne.\r\n\r\n

SARDANAPALUS.\r\nYou shall know\r\nAnon\u2014what the whole earth shall ne'er forget.<\/p>\r\nDr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker provide a description, historical perspective, and analysis of Delacroix's\u00a0The Death of Sardanapalus<\/em>.\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/iDBJK0y8vb0\r\n\r\nEug\u00e8ne Delacroix, The Death of Sardanapalus<\/em>, 1827, oil on canvas, 12' 10\" \u00d7 16' 3\" (3.92m \u00d7 4.96m), (Mus\u00e9e du Louvre, Paris).\r\n

\r\n

External Link<\/h3>\r\nView this painting up close in the Google Art Project.<\/a>\r\n\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"

Delacroix’s painting\u00a0The Death of Sardanapalus<\/em>\u00a0was inspired by the great Romantic poet Lord Byron’s 1821 play, Sardanapalus<\/em>.<\/i> The following is an except:<\/p>\n

OFFICER.
\nThe wall which skirted near the river’s brink \u2028is thrown down by the sudden inundation
\nOf the Euphrates, which now rolling, swoln \u2028From the enormous mountains where it rises,
\nBy the late rains of that tempestuous region,
\nO’erfloods its banks, and hath destroy’d the bulwark.<\/p>\n

PANIA.
\nThat’s a black augury! it has been said
\nFor ages, ” That the city ne’er should yield “To man, until the river grew its foe.”<\/p>\n

SARDANAPALUS.
\nI can forgive the omen, not the ravage. \u2028How much is swept down of the wall?<\/p>\n

OFFICER.
\nAbout
\nSome twenty stadii.<\/p>\n

SARDANAPALUS.
\nAnd all this is left
\nPervious to the assailants?<\/p>\n

OFFICER.
\nFor the present
\nThe river’s fury must impede the assault;
\nBut when he shrinks into his wonted channel,
\nAnd may be cross’d by the accustom’d barks,
\nThe palace is their own.<\/p>\n

SARDANAPALUS.
\nThat shall be never. Though men, and gods,- and elements, and omens,
\nHave risen up ‘gainst one who ne’er provoked them,
\nMy fathers’ house shall never be a cave For wolves to horde and howl in….<\/p>\n

SARDANAPALUS.
\nYou have done your duty faithfully, and as
\nMy worthy Pania! further ties between us
\nDraw near a close. I pray you take this key:
\n[Gives a key.It opens to a secret chamber, placed
\nBehind the couch in my own chamber. (Now
\nPress’d by a nobler weight than e’er it bore\u2014
\nThough a long line of sovereigns have lain down
\nAlong its golden frame\u2014as bearing for
\nA time what late was Salemenes.) Search<\/p>\n

The secret covert to which this will lead you;
\n‘Tis full of treasure; take it for yourself
\nAnd your companions: there’s enough to load ye,
\nThough ye be many. Let the slaves be freed, too;
\nAnd all the inmates of the palace, of
\nWhatever sex, now quit it in an hour.
\nThence launch the regal barks, once form’d for pleasure,
\nAnd now to serve for safety, and embark.
\nThe river’s broad and swoln, and uncommanded
\n(More potent than a king) by these besiegers.
\nFly! and be happy!<\/p>\n

PANIA.
\nUnder your protection! So you accompany your faithful guard.<\/p>\n

SARDANAPALUS.
\nNo, Pania! that must not be; get thee hence, \u2028And leave me to my fate…<\/p>\n

SARDANAPALUS.
\n‘Tis enough. Now order here \u2028Faggots, pine-nuts, and wither’d leaves, and such \u2028Things as catch fire and blaze with one sole spark; \u2028Bring cedar, too, and precious drugs, and spices, \u2028And mighty planks, to nourish a tall pile; \u2028Bring frankincense and myrrh, too, for it is \u2028For a great sacrifice I build the pyre; \u2028And heap them round yon throne.<\/p>\n

SARDANAPALUS.
\nYou shall know
\nAnon\u2014what the whole earth shall ne’er forget.<\/p>\n

Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker provide a description, historical perspective, and analysis of Delacroix’s\u00a0The Death of Sardanapalus<\/em>.<\/p>\n