Polygnotus

• a celebrated Grecian painter and statuary of Thasus, contemporary with Socrates, Plin. 35, 6, 25; Cic. Brut. 18, 70.

(Πολύγνωτος). A celebrated Greek painter of the island of Thasos. He worked chiefly in Athens, whither he had been invited by Cimon about B.C. 460, and where he received the citizenship. His most celebrated paintings were the “Capture of Troy” and the “Descent of Odysseus into Hades,” in the hall erected by the Cnidians at Delphi. We possess a description of them in considerable detail by Pausanias (x. 25-31). Other celebrated paintings by him (though several of his contemporaries were associated with him in their execution) were to be seen in the Stoa Poecilé, the “Capture of Troy” and the “Battle of Marathon” (ib. 15), and in the temples of the Dioscuri (ib. 18. 1), and of Theseus at Athens. Though his works were only tinted outlines traced upon a coloured background, without shading and without any perspective, and sketched, as it were, in simple relief, all on the same plane, still his clear, rhythmical composition, the delicacy of his drawing, the impressiveness of his contours, and the nobility of his figures were highly celebrated. See Overbeck, Schriftquellen, 1067-1079.

• son of Aglaophon: Paus. 10.27.4, Paus. 10.31.12
• paints marriage of Dioscuri: Paus. 1.18.1, Achilles among the maidens at Scyros, and Odysseus and Nausicaa: Paus. 1.22.6, and Odysseus after slaying suitors: Paus. 9.4.2
• his paintings in the Lescheat Delphi: Paus. 10.25.1-Paus. 10.31.12, comprising Ilium after its capture: Paus. 10.25.2-Paus. 10.27.4, and Odysseus in hell: Paus. 10.28.1-Paus. 10.31.12