Published by the Swedish Institute at Athens. Distributed by Eddy.se AB.

Encounters with Mycenaean figures and figurines. Papers presented at a seminar at the Swedish Institute at Athens, 27–29 April 2001

Edited by Ann-Louise Schallin & Petra Pakkanen

Abstract

This volume presents fourteen articles which discuss Mycenaean figurines from various points of view. They focus on different aspects of the figurines, elaborating on their function, contextual characteristics, production, use-life, classification, topography, and history of scholarship. The articles are based on papers given at a workshop at the Swedish Institute at Athens in April 2001 entitled ‘Cultic Space and Mycenaean Figurines’. The idea of having a workshop arose from the fact that several of the participants were involved at the time with the documentation of various figurine types from the so-called Potter’s Workshop at Mastos in the Berbati Valley in the Argolid. The number and variety of the Mycenaean figurines from Mastos is impressive, particularly as the excavation had covered only a small area. The excavator, Å. Åkerström, proposed that the site had a cultic function in addition to its role as a production centre. In order to better understand the characteristics and identity of Mastos, scholars were invited to discuss the problems of the function and contextual characteristics of Mycenaean figurines more generally, presenting figurines from different sites so as to provide comparative contexts. Figurines in primary context are naturally considered as especially important since they may further our understanding of the roles of the figurines in religious as well as secular contexts. Issues such as interpreting the social roles of the figurines and considering their relation to other votive offerings, although not necessarily tied to primary contexts, are also discussed in this volume.

Contents

‘Preface’, p. 7

‘Programme of the seminar Cultic Space and Mycenaean Figurines’, p. 8

‘Introduction’, pp. 9–13

Elizabeth French, ‘Figurines revisited and the importance of Phylakopi’, pp. 15–21

Ingrid Weber-Hiden, ‘The stylistic development of Mycenaean terracotta female figurines’, pp. 23–36

Katie Demakopoulou & Nicoletta Divari-Valakou, ‘Mycenaean figures and figurines from Midea’, pp. 37–53

Kim Shelton, ‘The figurines from Petsas House’, pp. 55–60

Erika Weiberg, ‘Production of female figurines at Mastos, Berbati’, pp. 61–75

Nenad Petrović, ‘Mycenaean animal figurines from Mastos, Berbati’, pp. 77–84

Gabriele Albers, ‘Figures and figurines in Mycenaean sanctuaries: find distributions and contexts’, pp. 85–98

Helène Whittaker, ‘The cultic function of Mycenaean anthropomorphic terracotta figures’, pp. 99–111

Korinna Pilafidis-Williams, ‘The Mycenaean kourotrophos figurine at the Sanctuary of Aphaia on Aigina’, pp. 113–124

Martin Guggisberg, ‘Animal figures and sacrificial rituals at the end of the Bronze Age’, pp. 125–138

Leslie Hammond, ‘Figurines, cultic space and the miniature vase’, pp. 139–147

Petra Pakkanen, ‘Figurines as agents in Mycenaean religious ritual. An approach from the perspective of religious studies’, pp. 149–159

Ioulia Tzonou-Herbst, ‘Trashing the sacred: the use-life of Mycenaean figurines’, pp. 161–175

Marie-Louise Winbladh, ‘Mycenaean imports and figurines made in Mycenaean tradition from the Greek-Swedish excavations at Khania’, pp. 177–191

‘Index’, pp. 193–195

Bibliographical information

Ann-Louise Schallin & Petra Pakkanen (eds.), Encounters with Mycenaean figures and figurines. Papers presented at a seminar at the Swedish Institute at Athens, 27–29 April 2001, (Skrifter utgivna av Svenska Institutet i Athen, 8°, 20), Stockholm 2009. ISSN 0081-9921. ISBN 9789179160579. Softcover, 195 pages.

Reviews

Gnomon 84, 2012, 661-664 (Melissa Vetters)
L’antiquite classique 81, 2012, 553-553 (Raphaël Orgeolet)
The Classical Review 61, 2011, 583-584 (Katarzyna Zeman-Wiśniewska)