Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-2pzkn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-22T07:26:43.790Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Female Triads on Laconian Terracotta Plaques1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 June 2011

Gina Salapata
Gina Salapata
Affiliation:
Massey University, New Zealand
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Archaic and Classical terracotta relief plaques discovered in votive deposits in Lakonia and representing three standing females raise two questions: firstly, whether their appearance in groups of three means that they are a defined triad or is just an indication of unlimited plurality; and secondly, whether they are divine or mortal.

It is concluded that no single interpretation can be ascribed to all cases. Most triads seem to represent mortal worshippers rather than a specific divine or semi-divine triad. However, an exceptional triad flanked by snakes may represent the Erinyes. Such an interpretation would harmonize with the nature of the cult at the sanctuary in which they were dedicated—that of Alexandra (Kassandra) and Agamemnon, both murdered in Lakonia, according to a local tradition. An offering with the representation of the avenging spirits would have been very appropriate for Agamemnon and especially Kassandra, who suffered a wrongful death that was never properly avenged.

Πήλινα ανάγλυφα πλακίδια των κλασικών και αρχαϊκών χρόνων, που βρέθηκαν σε αναθηματικούς αποτέθες στη Λακωνία και απεικονίζουν τρεις ιστάμενες θηλυκές μορφές, εγείρουν δύο ερωτήματα: πρώτον, εάν η εμφάνισή τους σε ομάδες των τριών υποδηλώνει μιία καθορισμένη τριάδα ή είναι απλώς μία ένδειςη απεριόριστης πληθωρικότητας. και δεύτερον, εάν αναπαριστούν θεϊκές ή θνητές μορφές.

Συμπεραίνεται ότι δεν υπάρχει μία ερμηνεία για όλες τις περιπτώσεις. Οι περισσότερες τριάδες φαίνεται πως αναπαριστούν θνητούς λάτρεις, παρά ένα συγκεκριμένο σύνολο θεϊκών μορφών ή ημίθεων. Ωστόσο μία εξαιρετική τριάδα περιστοιχιζόμενη από φίδια ίσως απεικονίζει τις Ερινύες. Αυτή η ερμηνεία θα μπορούσε να εναρμονιστεί με τη φύση της λατρείας του ιερού, όπου ήταν αφιερωμένα τα πλακίδια, δηλαδή με το ιερό της Αλεξάνδρας (Κασσάνδρας) και του Αγαμέμνονα, που σύμφωνα με την τοπική παράδοση είχαν και οι δύο δολοφονηθεί στη Λακωνία. Ένα ανάθημα με την αναπαράσταση των εκδικούμενων πνευμάτων θα ήταν πολύ ταιριαστό για τον Αγαμέμνονα και ιδιαίτερα για την Κασσάνδρα, η οποία υπέφερε έναν άδικο θάνατο, εκδίκηση για τον οποίο δεν έλαβε ποτέ.

Type
Articles
Information
Annual of the British School at Athens , Volume 104 , November 2009 , pp. 325 - 340
Copyright
Copyright © The Council, British School at Athens 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Abramson, H. 1978. ‘Greek Hero Shrines’, PhD. diss., University of California at Berkeley.Google Scholar
Alexiou, S. 1958. ‘῾H μινωΐκή θεά μεθ᾿ ὐψωμένων τῶν χειρῶν’, Kr. Chron. 12, 179–299.Google Scholar
Bell, A. 1975. ‘Three again’, CJ 70, 40–1.Google Scholar
Bell, M. III. 1981. Morgantina Studies, i: The Terracottas (Princeton).Google Scholar
Blome, P. 1982. Die figürliche Bildwelt Kretas in der geometrischen und früharchaischen Periode (Mainz).Google Scholar
Böhm, S. 1990. Die “nackte Göttin”: zur Ikonographie und Deutung unbekleideter weiblicher Figuren in der frühgriechischen Kunst (Mainz).Google Scholar
Burr, D. 1933. ‘A Geometrie house and a Proto-Attic votive deposit’, Hesperia, 2, 542–640.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carter, J.B. 1985. Greek Ivory-Carving in the Orientalizing and Archaic Periods (New York).Google Scholar
Charitonidis, S. 1965. ‘᾿Aρχαιότητες καί μνημεία νήσων Aἰγαίου’, A. Delt. Chr. 20. 3, 488–95.Google Scholar
Christou, Ch. 1956. ‘᾿Aνασκαφή έν ᾿Aμύκλαις’, PAE, 211–2.Google Scholar
Christou, Ch. 1960 a. ‘᾿Aνασκαφή ᾿Aμυκλῶν’, PAE, 228–31.Google Scholar
Christou, Ch. 1960 b. ‘᾿Aρκαιότητες Λακωνίας-᾿Aρκαδίας: ᾿Aμύκλλαι’, A. Delt. Chr. 16. 1, 102–3.Google Scholar
Christou, Ch. 1961. ‘᾿Aναςκαφή ᾿Aμυκλῶν’, PAE, 177–8.Google Scholar
Christou, Ch. 1968. Potnia Theron (Thessaloniki).Google Scholar
Constantinidou, S. 1998. ‘Dionysiac elements in Spartan cult dances’, Phoenix 52, 15–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dawkins, R. M. (ed.) 1929. The Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia at Sparta (JHS supp. 5; London).Google Scholar
Deonna, W. 1954. ‘Trois, superlatif absolu: à propos du taureau tricornu et de Mercure triphallique’, Ant. Cl. 23, 403–28.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
D'Onofrio, A.M. 2001. ‘Immagini di divinità nel materiale votivo dell'edificio ovale geometrico ateniese e indagine sull'area sacra alle pendici settentrionali dell'Areopago’, MEFRA 113.1, 257–320.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dressel, H. and Milchhöfer, A. 1877. ‘Die antiken Kunstwerke aus Sparta und Umgebung’, Ath. Mitt. 2, 293–474.Google Scholar
École française d'Athènes 1968. Guide de Thasos (Athens).Google Scholar
Fitzhardinge, L.F. 1980. The Spartans (London).Google Scholar
Flouris, Ch. 1996. ‘Aνασκαφικές εργασίες. Noμός Λακωνίας. Oδός Στάουφερτ’, A. Delt. Chr. 51–1, 123–5.Google Scholar
Flouris, Ch. 2000. ‘I pinakes fittili dell'area di Limnai a Sparta: aspetti tecnici e iconografici. Il loro collegamento coi culti eroici’. Ph.D. diss., University of Naples.Google Scholar
Fuchs, W. 1962. ‘Attische Nymphenreliefs’, Ath. Mitt. 77, 242–9.Google Scholar
Goldman, H. 1940. ‘The acropolis of Halae’, Hesperia, 9, 381–514.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grabow, E. 1998. Schlangenbilder in der griechischen schwarzfigurigen Vasenkunst (Münster).Google Scholar
Hadzisteliou-Price, T. 1971. ‘Double and multiple representations in Greek art and religious thought’, JHS 91, 48–69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hall, J.M. 1997. Ethnic Identity in Greek Antiquity (Cambridge).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hanfmann, G.M.A. and Ramage, N.H. 1976. Sculpture from Sardis: The Finds Through 1975 (Cambridge, Mass).Google Scholar
Hansen, Wm. F. 1976. ‘Three a third time’, CJ 71, 253–4.Google Scholar
Harrison, J.E. 1899. ‘Delphika (A) The Erinyes (B) The omphalos’, JHS 19, 205–51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Herington, C.J. 1955. Athena Parthenos and Athena Polias (Manchester).Google Scholar
Higgins, R.A. 1967. Greek Terracottas (London).Google Scholar
Jeffery, L.H. 1961. The Local Scripts of Archaic Greece (Oxford).Google Scholar
Jenkins, R.J.H. 1932–1933. ‘Laconian terracottas of the Dedalic style’, BSA 33, 66–79.Google Scholar
Johnston, S.I. 1999. Restless Dead: Encounters Between the Living and the Dead in Ancient Greece (Berkeley).Google Scholar
Kassimatis, H. 1982. ‘Figurines dédaliques de Gortyne: essai de typologie’, BCH 106, 447–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kleine, B. 2005. Bilder tanzender Frauen in frühgriechischer und klassischer Zeit (Rahden in Westfalen).Google Scholar
Korres, G.S. 1982. ‘Aνασκαφή Bοΐδοκοιλιάς Πυλίας’, PAE, 191–231.Google Scholar
Korres, G.S. 1988. ‘Evidence for a Hellenistic chthonian cult in the prehistoric cemetery of Voïdokoiliá in Pylos (Messenia)’, Klio 70, 311–28.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Larson, J. 2001. Greek Nymphs: Myth, Cult, Lore (Oxford).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lease, E.B. 1919. ‘The number three, mysterious, mystic, magic’, CP 14, 56–73.Google Scholar
Levi, D. 1923–1924. ‘L'antro delle ninfe e di Pan a Farsalo in Tessaglia’, ASA 6–7, 27–42.Google Scholar
Levi, D. 1955–1956 [1957]. ‘Gli scavi del 1954 sull'acropoli di Cortina’, ASA, n.s. 17–18, 207–88.Google Scholar
Lissarague, F. 2006. ‘Comment peindre les Érinyes?’ Mètis, n.s. 4, 51–70.Google Scholar
Lloyd-Jones, H. 1990. ‘Erinyes, Semnai Theai, Eumenides’, in Craik, E.M. (ed.), ‘Owls to Athens’: Essays on Classical Subjects Presented to Sir Kenneth Dover (Oxford), 203–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Malkin, I. 1994. Myth and Territory in the Spartan Mediterranean (Cambridge).Google Scholar
Marangou, E.-L. 1969. Lakonische Elfenbein- und Beinschnitzereien (Tübingen).Google Scholar
Marinatos, N. 2000. The Goddess and the Warrior (London).Google Scholar
Marinatos, S. 1962. ‘118. Winckelmannfeier am 9. Dezember 1961’, AA 77, 903–16.Google Scholar
Milchhöfer, A. 1879. ‘Antikenbericht aus dem Peloponnes’, Ath. Mitt. 4, 121–76.Google Scholar
Mollard-Besques, S. 1954–1986. Catalogue raisonné des figurines et reliefs en terre-cuite grecs, étrusques et romains, 4 vols. (Paris).Google Scholar
Ninou, K. (ed.) n.d. [c. 1980]. Treasures of Ancient Macedonia (Thessaloniki).Google Scholar
Orlandos, A.K. 1965. ‘Pitsa’, EAA 6, 200–6.Google Scholar
Palagia, O. 1990. ‘A new relief of the Graces and the Charites of Socrates’, in Geerard, M. (ed.), Opes Atticae: miscellanea philologica et historica Raymonde Bogaert et Hermanne Van Looy oblata (Steenbrugge and The Hague), 347–56.Google Scholar
Papachristodoulou, I. 1968. ‘᾿Aνάγλυφα Εὐμενίδων ἐζ ᾿Aργολίδος’, A. Delt. 23, 117–31.Google Scholar
Peppa-Papaioannou, I. 1987–1988. ‘Πήλινα αναθηματικά ανάγλυφα πλακίδια από τή Bοïδοκοιλιά Mεσσηνίας’, in Praktika of the Third International Conference of Peloponnesian Studies (Peloponnesiaka supp. 13; Athens), 257–72.Google Scholar
Perry, C.D. 1973. ‘The tyranny of three’, CJ 68, 144–8.Google Scholar
Phaklaris, P.V. 1990. Aρκαία Kυνουρία: ανθρώπινη δραστηρότητα και περιβάλλον (Athens).Google Scholar
Pingiatoglu, S. 1981. Eileithyia (Würzburg).Google Scholar
Prückner, H. 1968. Die lokrischen Tonreliefs: Beitrag zur Kultgeschichte von Lokroi Epizephyrioi (Mainz am Rhein).Google Scholar
Ridgway, B.S. 1970. The Severe Style in Greek Sculpture (Princeton).Google Scholar
Rizza, G. and Santa Maria Scrinari, V. 1968. Il santuario sull'acropoli di Gortina, i (Rome).Google Scholar
Salapata, G. 1993. ‘The Lakonian hero reliefs in the light of the terracotta plaques’, in Palagia, O. and Coulson, W. (eds), Sculpture from Arcadia and Laconia (Oxford), 189–97.Google Scholar
Salapata, G. 1997. ‘Hero warriors from Corinth and Lakonia’, Hesperia 66, 245–60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Salapata, G. 2002 a. ‘Greek votive plaques: manufacture, display, disposal’, BABesch 77, 19–42.Google Scholar
Salapata, G. 2002 b. ‘Myth into cult: Alexandra/Kassandra in Lakonia’, in Gorman, V.B. and Robinson, E. (eds), Oikistes: Studies in Constitution, Colonies, and Military Power in the Ancient World. Offered in Honor of A. J. Graham (Leiden), 131–59.Google Scholar
Salapata, G. 2006. ‘The tippling serpent in the art of Lakonia and beyond’, Hesperia, 75, 541–60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sarian, H. 1986. ‘Erinys’, LIMC iii. 1. 825–43, 2. 595–606.Google Scholar
Schaefer, M. 2001–2002. ‘Tα αναθηματικά ανάγλυφα των Eυμενίδων στο ´Aργος’, in Praktika of the Sixth International Conference of Peloponnesian Studies (Tripolis 24–29 September 2000), ii (Athens), 273–94.Google Scholar
Schwarzenberg, E. 1966. Die Grazien (Bonn).Google Scholar
Smith, A.H. 1892–1904. Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities of the British Museum, 3 vols. (London).Google Scholar
Steinhauer, G.Y. 1973–1974. ‘Λακωνία’, A. Delt. Chr. 29, 286–7, 291–2.Google Scholar
Stibbe, C.M. 1991. ‘Dionysos in Sparta’, BABesch 66, 1–44.Google Scholar
Stibbe, C.M. 1998. ‘Exceptional shapes and decorations in Laconian pottery’, in Cavanagh, W.G. and Walker, S.E.C. (eds), Sparta in Laconia (London), 64–74.Google Scholar
Straten, F.T. van 1981. ‘Gifts for the gods’, in Versnel, H.S. (ed), Faith, Hope, and Worship: Aspects of Religious Mentality in the Ancient World (Studies in Greek and Roman Religion 2; Leiden), 65–104.Google Scholar
Themelis, P.Y. 1998. ‘The sanctuary of Demeter and the Dioscouri at Messene’, in Hägg, R. (ed), Ancient Greek Cult Practice from the Archaeological Evidence: Proceedings of the Eighth International Symposium at the Swedish Institute at Athens, October 1994 (Stockholm), 157–86.Google Scholar
Themelis, P.Y. 2000. ´Hρωες και ηρώα στη Mεσσήνη (Athens).Google Scholar
Themos, A. 1998. ‘E´ εφορεία προïστορικών και κλασικών αρχαιοτήτων: αγρός A. Σακελλαράκου’, A. Delt. Chr. 53. 1, 173.Google Scholar
Thompson, M.S. 1908–1909. ‘Laconia: excavations at Sparta, 1909. The Menelaion: the terracotta figurines’, BSA 15, 116–26.Google Scholar
Tod, M.N. and Wace, A.J.B. 1906. A Catalogue of the Sparta Museum (Oxford; repr. Rome 1968).Google Scholar
Tsatsopoulou-Kaloudi, T. 1984. ‘H αιγαιακή Mεσημβρία’, ´Aρχαιολογία 13 (Nov.), 59–64.Google Scholar
Usener, H. 1903. ‘Dreiheit’, RhM 58, 1–47.Google Scholar
Wuilleumier, P. 1939. Tarente des origines à la conquête romaine (Paris).Google Scholar