DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8577#0077
THE EARLY CORINTHIAN ORIENTALIZING STYLE 57
this group of graves as a whole. The most important of these is tomb 1 of
the predio Spagna at Syracuse.1 This tomb contained a number of vases
(Daedalic bucchero, and Ionian cups) together with the following which are
of early Corinthian style: aryballoi nos. 491 and 551; lekanis, no. 719a; black
kotyle as in other graves previously quoted, but with smaller rays, and there-
fore not properly speaking of Protocorinthian type (see on no. 201); plastic
vase, fig. 76. A grave at Rhitsona (no. 14: J.H.S. 1910, 350 fF.), which con-
tained a great number of vases, belongs to about the same period, and is
probably to be placed at the turn of the seventh and sixth centuries. There
were no vases of specifically Protocorinthian type in this grave, but there were
many of the kinds which we have just encountered: aryballoi and alabastra
identical with those shown in figs. 121 b, 121 bis, 126-7,161 a, eight alabastra
of the kind shown in pi. 17 (see Ure's descriptions loc. cit.), and a number of
round aryballoi similarly decorated (group E, no. 554 andff.). Along with
these was found a piece of primitive local pottery, of a type known from the
earlier grave Rhitsona no. 13 (op. cit. 346 ff.). In conclusion, I will mention
one more grave at Rhitsona (no. 97—aryballoi as fig. 126 and no. 568, alabastra
as fig. 121 c and pi. 17,1-4) and another at Syracuse (no. 440: N.S. 1895,174:
three early alabastra, two aryballoi (p. 290 group E), pyxis, see no. 667) where
we find the same types associated.
These graves are sufficient to show that the vases here classified as early
Corinthian are of the kind regularly associated with vases of Protocorinthian
type; it is consequently reasonable to regard them as early. Without the
evidence of the style in which they are decorated this evidence would not be
conclusive; nor would that of the style without the graves. But the two
together make a firm foundation. As I have already remarked, the homo-
geneity of the early Corinthian series will appear more clearly when we have
discussed the later styles. I do not wish to obscure the fact that the lower
limits of the early group are extremely ill-defined. There are many vases,
particularly small aryballoi roughly decorated with a single figure, which it is
impossible to place with certainty. I have mentioned all such cases in the
catalogue. What is certain is that the sixth century brings a number of new
types, and new styles which soon replaced the characteristic style of the early
Corinthian period. I have chosen the end of the seventh century as the lower
limit for the early Corinthian style because very few fragments of early
Corinthian vases were found at Naukratis, and because a very considerable
cycle of development has to be accomplished before the disappearance of the
orientalizing style in the middle of the sixth century. It is possible that the
lower limit of the early style should be placed a little after 600 b.c. at about
590; but in any case the margin of error is comparatively small.
1 N.S. 1925, 179 If. with illustrations.
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I
this group of graves as a whole. The most important of these is tomb 1 of
the predio Spagna at Syracuse.1 This tomb contained a number of vases
(Daedalic bucchero, and Ionian cups) together with the following which are
of early Corinthian style: aryballoi nos. 491 and 551; lekanis, no. 719a; black
kotyle as in other graves previously quoted, but with smaller rays, and there-
fore not properly speaking of Protocorinthian type (see on no. 201); plastic
vase, fig. 76. A grave at Rhitsona (no. 14: J.H.S. 1910, 350 fF.), which con-
tained a great number of vases, belongs to about the same period, and is
probably to be placed at the turn of the seventh and sixth centuries. There
were no vases of specifically Protocorinthian type in this grave, but there were
many of the kinds which we have just encountered: aryballoi and alabastra
identical with those shown in figs. 121 b, 121 bis, 126-7,161 a, eight alabastra
of the kind shown in pi. 17 (see Ure's descriptions loc. cit.), and a number of
round aryballoi similarly decorated (group E, no. 554 andff.). Along with
these was found a piece of primitive local pottery, of a type known from the
earlier grave Rhitsona no. 13 (op. cit. 346 ff.). In conclusion, I will mention
one more grave at Rhitsona (no. 97—aryballoi as fig. 126 and no. 568, alabastra
as fig. 121 c and pi. 17,1-4) and another at Syracuse (no. 440: N.S. 1895,174:
three early alabastra, two aryballoi (p. 290 group E), pyxis, see no. 667) where
we find the same types associated.
These graves are sufficient to show that the vases here classified as early
Corinthian are of the kind regularly associated with vases of Protocorinthian
type; it is consequently reasonable to regard them as early. Without the
evidence of the style in which they are decorated this evidence would not be
conclusive; nor would that of the style without the graves. But the two
together make a firm foundation. As I have already remarked, the homo-
geneity of the early Corinthian series will appear more clearly when we have
discussed the later styles. I do not wish to obscure the fact that the lower
limits of the early group are extremely ill-defined. There are many vases,
particularly small aryballoi roughly decorated with a single figure, which it is
impossible to place with certainty. I have mentioned all such cases in the
catalogue. What is certain is that the sixth century brings a number of new
types, and new styles which soon replaced the characteristic style of the early
Corinthian period. I have chosen the end of the seventh century as the lower
limit for the early Corinthian style because very few fragments of early
Corinthian vases were found at Naukratis, and because a very considerable
cycle of development has to be accomplished before the disappearance of the
orientalizing style in the middle of the sixth century. It is possible that the
lower limit of the early style should be placed a little after 600 b.c. at about
590; but in any case the margin of error is comparatively small.
1 N.S. 1925, 179 If. with illustrations.
3575
I