Βεργίνα 1990 : ανασκαφή στο ιερό της Εύκλειας
Part of : Το Αρχαιολογικό Έργο στη Μακεδονία και στη Θράκη ; Vol.4, No.1, 1990, pages 21-34
Issue:
Pages:
21-34
Parallel Title:
Vergina 1990 : the sanctuary of Eukleia
Author:
Abstract:
The campaign of 1990 at the Sanctuary of Eukleia endowed us with a most rewarding group of finds, which contribute largely to our knowledge of 4th century sculpture in the round. In a large ditch outside the NW corner of the temple revealed in 1989, an almost intact inscribed statuary base, an over-human size female marble statue and three marble heads were found in a way probably reflecting a pious burial after destruction. The plinth of the statue fits perfectly to the base, thus certifying their direct relation and enabling us to reconstruct their original appearance, without any doubt. The statue, representing a goddess-like mature female figure, wearing chiton, peplos and a himation which originally covered the rear part of the head, is very close to the posture and style of Eirene by Kephisodotos. The head of the statue, worked separately, was inserted in a peculiar way, like a Gesichtsmaske. Although the upper part of the himation is now missing, the flat surface at the back of the head and neck fit perfectly to the statue. The lower parts of the vertical folds of the himation originally bordering the neck and the face are still preserved over the shoulders of the figure. The face, preserving all features of a mature lady, should be understood as a portrait. Its dating would have been difficult to approach, were if not for its similarity to the other two marble heads of the fourth century B.C., found together in the same ditch. The intact inscription on the base, a dedication of Eurydice, daughter of Sirras to Eukleia again, connects the statue with Amyntas’ wife, Philip IPs mother; thus, it canbe dated during the first or the beginning of the second half of the fourth century B.C. The new statuary base is almost identical to the partly preserved inscribed base from Palatitsia, bearing the name and patronymic of Eurydice again. Thus, the new discovery justifies our interpretation of the Palatitsia monument as a base for a statuerepresenting the same historical person. The peculiar insertion of the head may be explained as a possible later intervention on the original dedication. Yet, in the form it has come down to us, the statue should still be connected somehow with the dedicator or her relatives. Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain that the inscription of the original dedication has been preserved in a later period. Consequently, it is legitimate to suggest that the face of the lady preserves the only portrait of Eurydice herself, known since the antiquity. This schematic approach should be conceived as a preliminary connotation of thevarious problems which arose after this important statue was discovered at Vergina. The thorough study of the context will hopefully lead to final suggestions.
Subject:
Subject (LC):
Keywords:
Βεργίνα, συνέδρια
Notes:
Περιέχει σχέδια και εικόνες
