211-238

Clay moulds, stamps and relief vases from Vergina

• Φάκλαρης, Παναγιώτης Β.

The pottery examined here comes chiefly from excavations on the acropolis and circuit walls of Vergina from 1980 to 1987. A small number (six fragments without inventory number) are from excavations within the main habitation area. They are clay moulds for relief vases, clay stamps, and fragments of relief vases. These finds have enriched our knowledge of Macedonian pottery in the Hellenistic period and confirm the existence and functioning of a local workshop at Vergina.Twelve fragments of moulds were found (Figs 1-12; P1 s. 86-87 ε) all belonging to different types. Eleven of them were for the manufacture of bowls, and one (ΒΑΠ 104) was for amphorae with relief decoration. Ten were decorated with plant motifs, the eleventh (ΒΑΠ 62) must have had a narrative scene, while the subject of the twelfth one (ΒΑΠ 65) we do not know. The mould fragments were found in five different places. Some of the moulds must have been made locally, while others may have been imported from some other production centre, e.g. Pella. The damage we noted on the inside walls of some moulds is an indication of their long period of use. One of them (ΒΑΠ 104) can be dated to the 2nd quarter of the 2nd c., two others (ΒΑΠ 56, 58) to the middle of the 2nd c., and the rest to the 2nd half of the 2nd c. and 1st half of the 1st c. B.C.The clay stamps belong to three different types (Figs 13-15; Pis. 87 στ -88 y). One (ΒΑΠ 24) must have been used for the decoration of relief vase moulds; it is not sure where the second type (ΒΑΠ 92) was used; and the third (ΒΑΠ 44) was used for decorating pyxis lids. The first stamp has an eleven-leafed palmette, the second has five parallel grooved lines, and the third has a bust of Apollo with a cithara in his left hand and a quiver and bow on his right shoulder. The last stamp was used to make relief ornaments that were attached to the lids of clay pyxides.The first stamp confirms the view that some of the relief vase moulds were made locally. The stamp with the bust of Apollo tells us that in addition to relief vases pyxides with a relief ornament on the lid were also made at Vergina. ΒΑΠ 44 can be dated to the 1st half of the 2nd c., ΒΑΠ 92 to around the middle of the 2nd c.,and ΒΑΠ 24 to the 2nd half of the 2nd c. B.C.The fragments of relief vases presented here belong chiefly to bowls of the types known to specialists as «Megarian» and «Homeric» bowls. They can be divided into two broad categories. Vases of the first, to which most of the fragments belong, have plant decoration, and those of the second have narrative scenes (Figs 21-31; Pis 91 y-94). Different groups are represented in the first category, some of which are similar to the equivalent ones at Pella.The fragments with narrative scenes are fewer and the subjects vary; they depict the Iliou Persis, theatrical scenes, erotic scenes, etc. On some of them are inscriptions identifying the persons portrayed, e.g. ΕΠΕΙΟΟ, A10MH/A[HC, AIA]AC, ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝ, HPA[ΚΛΗΣ, or explaining the scene, e.g. EYPIf IIIAOY ΟΙΝΟJMAO]Σ, AKPQC.Some of these vases must have been the product of a local workshop, while others were imported from large centres like Pella. Taking the various finds into consideration and comparing them with their equivalents in other areas, the fragments of relief vases can be dated from the 2nd half of the 2nd c. to the 1st half of the 1st c. B.C.A study of the excavation material found to date, together with the new material that will come to light as the excavations continue, will undoubtedly produce much evidence for a closer dating of the relief vases, for their local production and for the commerce of this important Macedonian city.

• History and Archaeology

• Αρχαιολογία
• Decorative arts
• Archaeology and art

Ο γράφων ευχαριστεί τον καθηγητή Μ. Ανδρόνικο για την άδεια της μελέτης και δημοσίευσης του παραπάνω ανασκαφικού υλικού. Επίσης, το συνάδελφο I. Ακαμάτη, ο οποίος συζήτησε μαζί του τα διάφορα προβλήματα και έκανε χρήσιμες υποδείξεις. Τα σχέδια φιλοτέχνησε η ζωγράφος του Αρχαιολογικού Μουσείου Θεσσαλονίκης Ασπ. Φάκλαρη, ενώ τα εκμάγματα των μητρών έκανε ο συντηρητής του ίδιου Μουσείου Δ. Καπιζιώνης. Οι φωτογραφίες, εκτός από την αεροφωτογραφία του Πίν. 85 α, είναι του υπογράφοντος., Περιέχει 32 σχέδια. Πίνακες 85-94 βλέπε τέλος τεύχους, Το άρθρο περιέχεται στο τεύχος: Μέρος Α'-Μελέτες