Heraklion Archaeological Museum - CollectiveAccess System : Clay objects : Clay cauldron with griffin protomes [Π30445]

Clay cauldron with griffin protomes

Π30445

Clay

Mended from many sherds and restored in many places

Height: 15.3 cm.Max. Diameter: 18 cm.Rim diameter: 13 cm.

Gortyn

Acropolis, Sanctuary of Athena

Early Archaic period:

650-600 BC:

Gallery:

XVII

Case:

178

Exhibition thematic unit:

Geometric - Archaic - Classical period (10th - 4th c. BC). The Sanctuaries. From Minoan cult to the amalgamation of religious beliefs

Sanctuaries

Description

Lebes (cauldron) with appliqué griffin heads. The shape of the vessel reveals clear Eastern influences and follows metal prototypes. The artist differentiated the dotted griffin heads from their scaly necks. The hole in the mouth communicates with the interior of the vessel. Cauldrons are associated with cult, particularly of goddesses, like this example which was found in the Sanctuary of Athena on the acropolis of Gortyn.

Bibliography:

Levi D., “Gli Scavi del 1954 sull’Acropoli di Gortyna”, Annuario della scuola archeologica di Atene 33-34 (1955-1956), 207-288. Hampe R., Kretische Löwenschale des siebten Jahrhunderts v. Chr., Heidelberg, 1969, 20. Rizzo M.A., "The first Explorations", in Ancient Crete, A Hundred Years of Italian Archaeology (1884-1984), Rome, 69, fig. 76. Stampolidis N. Chr. - Karetsou A. (eds) Ανατολική Μεσόγειος, Κύπρος-Δωδεκάνησα-Κρήτη, 16ος-6ος αι. π.Χ.”, Heraklion, 1998, 142-143.

Author:

S. P.

Photographs' metadata