Mitra (piece of armour)
ΣΓ568
Metal (Bronze)
Almost intact. Small part of the edge on the left incomplete
Pres. Length: 23 cm. Height: 16 cm. Thickness: 0.1 cm.
Axos or Afrati
Archaic period:
650-600 BC:
Gallery:
XXIIICase:
231Exhibition thematic unit:
Private CollectionsCh. Giamalakis Collection
Description
The mitra (belly guard) was a separate piece of armour suspended by links from a leather belt under the cuirass to protect the warrior’s abdomen. Many of the surviving examples have been found in Crete or are thought to have been produced by Cretan workshops, even when they are found at sanctuaries elsewhere in Greece such as Olympia and Delphi. A significant proportion are undecorated on the main surface, which is bordered by a band of multiple incised lines rather than featuring any more opulent decoration. Decorated or not, many mitrai bear incised inscriptions of later date. This example from a metallurgical workshop in Axos or Arkades is one such. Placed off-centre on its smooth, semicircular surface is the inscription, written right to left in the Archaic alphabet: “Phrixos won this”. It is unclear whether the frequent repetition of the same formula on mitrai indicates that they are spoils of war or athletic prizes, proudly presented to a sanctuary by the grateful owner.Bibliography:
S. Marinatos, Ενεπίγραφος μίτρα εκ Κρήτης, Αρχαιολογική Εφημερίς 1966, p. 104-107. H. Hoffmann, Early Cretan Armorers, Mainz 1972, p. 13, M9 and p. 15. Ch. Kritzas, Επιγραφή χαλκής μίτρας Μουσείου Ηρακλείου, Κρητικά Χρονικά ΛΔ (2014), p. 55-64 and esp. p. 57-61.Author:
K. S.Photographs' metadata