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Author Topic: Acheloios from the Temple of Aphrodite at Naukratis?  (Read 4713 times)

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Offline Molinari

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Acheloios from the Temple of Aphrodite at Naukratis?
« on: March 09, 2019, 03:45:50 pm »
I’m very happy to have acquired this new artifact, which I attribute to Naukratis c. late 7th to mid 6th century BC.  It might be the earliest know Greek depiction of Acheloios, though it appears to be made in local style, unlike slightly later and larger Acheloios-shaped balsamarii from the temple of Aphrodite at Naukratis.

It is really magnificent to behold in hand.  I absolutely love it.  

There is also an old collection tag affixed to the base.  It appears to be a repurposed postage stamp and I’m tempted to remove so I can date the provenance further back.


Offline JBF

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Re: Acheloios from the Temple of Aphrodite at Naukratis?
« Reply #1 on: March 09, 2019, 09:08:03 pm »
What is the size and purpose of the vessel?  What does it look like from the side?  Are the horns broken/cut off?

Offline Molinari

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Re: Acheloios from the Temple of Aphrodite at Naukratis?
« Reply #2 on: March 09, 2019, 09:26:44 pm »
About 2.5 inches tall.  It was sold as a cosmetic pot, but I think it probably held water for ritual or medicinal/funerary ointment.  The horns appear to have been originally formed as broken horns, which is common for Acheloios and earlier bucrania in general. 

I cent seem to get the photos to easily upload for some reason!

Offline Molinari

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Re: Acheloios from the Temple of Aphrodite at Naukratis?
« Reply #3 on: March 10, 2019, 12:08:50 pm »
Here is one from Tarquinia, which Isler describes as in Egyptian style. I believe mine is the prototype.

Offline Enodia

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Re: Acheloios from the Temple of Aphrodite at Naukratis?
« Reply #4 on: March 10, 2019, 03:13:47 pm »
.... and earlier bucrania in general. 

I didn't know this and find it quite interesting. Why, do you think?

Great piece Nick, especially for you! Congratulations.

- Peter

Offline Molinari

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Re: Acheloios from the Temple of Aphrodite at Naukratis?
« Reply #5 on: March 10, 2019, 04:15:48 pm »
One produces abundance, very broadly understood, by grasping the bull by the horns. But it is a long story  ;D

Offline Molinari

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Re: Acheloios from the Temple of Aphrodite at Naukratis?
« Reply #6 on: March 10, 2019, 06:15:20 pm »
Here is the tag.

Offline JBF

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Re: Acheloios from the Temple of Aphrodite at Naukratis?
« Reply #7 on: March 10, 2019, 07:52:12 pm »
I can imagine some kind of folk tale or fable regarding the horns of a dilemma, grasping them, and vaulting over.  I could see a development of the folk tale or fable with Heracles not only avoids the horns, but also destroys them.  This is what you do with encountering a bull beast, this on the other hand, is what you do _if_ you are Heracles encountering a bull-beast.  What do you think Molinari?  Or am I reading too much into it?

Offline Molinari

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Re: Acheloios from the Temple of Aphrodite at Naukratis?
« Reply #8 on: March 10, 2019, 08:44:46 pm »
There’s a basic connotation of regulated rivers and the agricultural abundance that is produced as a result, but there are also tales of grappling with water deities to gain access to some form of arcane knowledge. So the meaning is twofold, at least in the Greek tradition.

Offline Molinari

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Re: Acheloios from the Temple of Aphrodite at Naukratis?
« Reply #9 on: March 13, 2019, 09:31:51 am »
I found this interesting example today, in similar style and about the same size, presumably depicting Acheloios’ counterpart, Herakles.  The leopard skin headdress indicates, to me, eastern Greek and perhaps also Naukratis.  From the Metropolitan Museum, New York (labeled as "Eastern Greek, Faience). Catalogued in Hoppin, James C. and Albert Gallatin. 1926. Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, USA 1, Hoppin and Gallatin Collections. p. 2, Gallatin pl. 2.12, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.


Offline stevex6

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Re: Acheloios from the Temple of Aphrodite at Naukratis?
« Reply #10 on: March 13, 2019, 10:56:51 am »
Wow, nice => congrats Molinari => that's a super cool artifact-addition (I'm jealous)

 +++

Cheers

stevex6

Offline Molinari

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Re: Acheloios from the Temple of Aphrodite at Naukratis?
« Reply #11 on: March 13, 2019, 11:00:30 am »
Thanks, Steve. I love it, and it is important for my research too.

Offline Molinari

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Re: Acheloios from the Temple of Aphrodite at Naukratis?
« Reply #12 on: March 14, 2019, 09:26:22 am »
Undoubtedly from Naukratis, says Isler.  In fact, he lists 14 similar examples he believes come from Naukratis.  This one was found on Rhodes at Kamiros. Cf. Clara Rhodos IV (1931), p. 382, Fig. 431f.

 

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