DOI Heft:
No. 64 (July, 1898)
DOI Artikel:Huish, Marcus Bourne: Tanagra terra-cottas
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21969#0124
Tanagra Terra-cottas
places even the workshops
of the makers were dis-
covered.
Next to Tanagra the
largest and most interesting
find was at Myrina, which,
like Tanagra, has left no
trace behind of its original
importance, or of an exist-
ence extending over nearly
two thousand years. Its
site on the shores of the
bay in which lies the
Island of Mytelene is re-
cognisable only by a few
ruined walls and vestiges
of an acropolis. It was no. 8.-
upon a farm there, belong-
ing to an intelligent Turk,
Bey Baltazzi, that certain statuettes were brought
to light in 1880, of so interesting a character that
the assistance of the French school at Athens was
called in, and, under the skilled direction of MM.
Pottier and Reinach, a very systematic and success-
ful search was made, resulting in the discovery of
large hoards of these statuettes, for the most part
of a somewhat later date than those at Tanagra.*
* Whilst the Tanagra statuettes are assigned to the fourth
century B.C., those at Myrina are considered to be covered
by the three centuries between the reign of Alexander and
the Christian era.
ARIADNE DESERTED AT NAXOS
(Salting Collection)
The following extract from MM. Pottier and
Reinach’s report gives, perhaps, the most accurate
account that we have of the location of these figu-
rines : “ It must not be supposed that every tomb
contained them. The great majority contained
none. Out of 5000 explored not more than 350
were well furnished. On the other hand, a few
were filled to the brim with terra cottas, one con-
taining 45 and another 35. The statuettes were
rarely whole, the breakages not, however, arising
from our excavations, but being of ancient date
and evidently made with
intention. They had not
arisen from the terra-cotta
being dropped into the
tomb, for fragments of the
same object were fre-
quently found at some
distance apart. They cer-
tainly pointed to inten-
tional breakage by some
one standing by the tomb
and throwing the pieces
in with either hand. Nor
were the figurines placed
in any order, for sometimes
they were jumbled together
at the head, sometimes at
the feet of the body.” f
Such being the home of
NO. 9.—PSYCHE AND EROS
(Salting Collection)
t This intentional practice
opens up a very interesting
question, which, however, space
prevents our considering.
102
places even the workshops
of the makers were dis-
covered.
Next to Tanagra the
largest and most interesting
find was at Myrina, which,
like Tanagra, has left no
trace behind of its original
importance, or of an exist-
ence extending over nearly
two thousand years. Its
site on the shores of the
bay in which lies the
Island of Mytelene is re-
cognisable only by a few
ruined walls and vestiges
of an acropolis. It was no. 8.-
upon a farm there, belong-
ing to an intelligent Turk,
Bey Baltazzi, that certain statuettes were brought
to light in 1880, of so interesting a character that
the assistance of the French school at Athens was
called in, and, under the skilled direction of MM.
Pottier and Reinach, a very systematic and success-
ful search was made, resulting in the discovery of
large hoards of these statuettes, for the most part
of a somewhat later date than those at Tanagra.*
* Whilst the Tanagra statuettes are assigned to the fourth
century B.C., those at Myrina are considered to be covered
by the three centuries between the reign of Alexander and
the Christian era.
ARIADNE DESERTED AT NAXOS
(Salting Collection)
The following extract from MM. Pottier and
Reinach’s report gives, perhaps, the most accurate
account that we have of the location of these figu-
rines : “ It must not be supposed that every tomb
contained them. The great majority contained
none. Out of 5000 explored not more than 350
were well furnished. On the other hand, a few
were filled to the brim with terra cottas, one con-
taining 45 and another 35. The statuettes were
rarely whole, the breakages not, however, arising
from our excavations, but being of ancient date
and evidently made with
intention. They had not
arisen from the terra-cotta
being dropped into the
tomb, for fragments of the
same object were fre-
quently found at some
distance apart. They cer-
tainly pointed to inten-
tional breakage by some
one standing by the tomb
and throwing the pieces
in with either hand. Nor
were the figurines placed
in any order, for sometimes
they were jumbled together
at the head, sometimes at
the feet of the body.” f
Such being the home of
NO. 9.—PSYCHE AND EROS
(Salting Collection)
t This intentional practice
opens up a very interesting
question, which, however, space
prevents our considering.
102