A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

Smith, William

A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. William Smith, LLD, ed. 1890

(Θρασυμήδης), the son of Arignotus of Paros, was the maker of the chryselephantine statue of Asclepius, in his temple at Epidaurus. Pausanias (2.27.2) describes the statue as being about half the size of that of the Olympian Zeus at Athens. The god was seated on a throne, holding a staff in one hand. and with the other hand held over the dragon's head, and with a dog lying by his side. The throne itself was adorned with sculptures, representing the Argive heroes, Bellerophon slaying the Chimaera, and Perseus holding the severed head of Medusa.

From the reference in this passage to the chryselephantine statue of Zeus Olympius at Athens, which was made at the expense of Hadrian (Paus. 1.18.6), it has been conjectured that the Epidaurians were indebted for the statue of their patron deity to the munificence of the same emperor, or of Antoninus Pius, who expended large sums on the decoration of that city (Paus. 2.27.7); but it seems improbable that, if this were the case, Pausanias should not have stated the fact in so many words. (Siebelis, ad doc., and Hirt, Gesch. d. bild. Künste bei den Alten, p. 190.)

[P.S]