Heraklion Archaeological Museum - CollectiveAccess System : Clay objects : Bowl containing plastic figurines of shepherd and flock [Π2908]

Bowl containing plastic figurines of shepherd and flock

Π2908

Clay

Mended and restored, some of the miniature animals are missing.

Height: 9 cm. Rim diameter: 19.5 cm.

Palaikastro

Middle Bronze Age. Protopalatial period, Middle Minoan IB period.:

1900 - 1800 BC:

Gallery:

Case:

Exhibition thematic unit:

Middle Bronze Age - Late Prepalatial-Protopalatial period (2200-1700 BC). From small communities to towns

Life in the settlements

Description

Clay open bowl painted entirely brownish-black. It has linear white and red decoration on the exterior. The inside of the bowl is almost covered with tiny figurines of recumbent animals, with a male figure standing behind them. The approximately 160 animals have been made separately and carefully attached, one beside the other. All the figurines are painted brownish-black. This vivid three-dimensional scene of a shepherd and his flock means that the bowl could not have been used as a container. The functional use of the vessel is eliminated in favour of its symbolic aspect, which is connected to the herding activity depicted. There are other Middle Minoan vessels containing attached figurines, but the multi-figure scene in the bowl from Palaikastro is so far unique.

Bibliography:

Bosanquet, R.C. and R.M. Dawkins. The Unpublished Objects from the Palaikastro Excavations 1902-1906. British School at Athens Supplementrary Paper 1. London, 1923, 12, pl. VI. Soles, J.S. The Prepalatial Cemeteries at Mochlos and Gournia and the House Tombs of Bronze Age Crete. Hesperia Supplement XXIV. Princeton, 1992, 191-192. Tzachili, Ι. Μινωικά Εικαστικά Τοπία. Βρύσινας Ι. Athens, 2011, 126, 176-177, fig. 109.

Author:

E. S.

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