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Author Topic: The Pylos Combat Agate  (Read 3288 times)

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Offline Xenophon

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The Pylos Combat Agate
« on: November 09, 2017, 01:11:04 am »
Article on the astonishing carving of an ancient Greek battle from the tomb of the so-called ‘Griffin Warrior’ in Pylos:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/11/08/history-art-rewritten-archaeologists-unearth-3500-year-old-carving/


Offline Xenophon

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Re: The Pylos Combat Agate
« Reply #1 on: November 09, 2017, 01:46:09 am »

Offline n.igma

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Re: The Pylos Combat Agate
« Reply #2 on: December 20, 2017, 01:18:44 am »
Fascinatingly beautiful. A piece that really challenges conventional art history wisdom. A bit more ore detail here ....

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171107092910.htm

Context:  http://magazine.uc.edu/editors_picks/recent_features/warrior_tomb.html

The formal publication:  http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2972/hesperia.86.4.0583?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
All historical inquiry is contingent and provisional, and our own prejudices will in due course come under scrutiny by our successors.

Offline n.igma

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Re: The Pylos Combat Agate
« Reply #3 on: December 20, 2017, 01:37:50 am »
Its from an era with which I have little familiarity, but I find the markedly differing armament, armour and attire of the combatants worthy of note. The slain soldier appears to be of the same side as that of the soldier about to inflict the fatal stab on his helmeted, spear and shield bearing opponent. I wonder whether this can be carried through to the likely identity of the combatants?
All historical inquiry is contingent and provisional, and our own prejudices will in due course come under scrutiny by our successors.

Offline n.igma

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Re: The Pylos Combat Agate
« Reply #4 on: December 20, 2017, 02:09:35 am »
Even more interestingly the bronze content of the Pylos warrior's tomb mirrors that of the soon to be victorious combatant depicted on the agate. No helmet, spear or shield  appear to have accompanied him into the afterlife. The jewellery and beads also appear to bear some relation to the depicted warrior's attire.

Bronze Content
One three-foot long sword, with an ivory hilt overlaid with gold in a rare technique imitating embroidery (found at warrior’s left chest).
Under this sword was a smaller dagger with a gold hilt employing the same technique.
Other bronze weapons by his legs and feet.
Bronze cups, bowls, amphora, jugs and a basin, some with gold, some with silver trim.

Gold
Four complete solid-gold seal rings to be worn on a human finger. This number is more than found with any single burial elsewhere in Greece.
Two squashed gold cups and a silver cup with a gold rim
One unique necklace of square box-shaped golden wires, more than 30 inches long with two gold pendants decorated with ivy leaves.
Numerous gold beads, all in perfect condition.


Precious Stone Beads
An astonishing hoard of over 1000 beads, most with drill holes for stringing together. The beads are of carnelian, amethyst, jasper and agate.  Some beads appear to be decorations from a burial shroud of woven fabric, suggested by several square inches of cross woven threads which survived in the grave for 3,500 years.


It is as if the depiction on the agate is personal and portrays the entombed warrior.
All historical inquiry is contingent and provisional, and our own prejudices will in due course come under scrutiny by our successors.

Offline Jay GT4

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Re: The Pylos Combat Agate
« Reply #5 on: December 26, 2017, 11:05:06 am »
Such an incredible find.  Thanks for sharing.

Offline peterpil19

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Re: The Pylos Combat Agate
« Reply #6 on: December 26, 2017, 05:39:47 pm »
Agree,


Great commentary by n.igma also.


Peter

 

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