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A CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF MYCENAEAN TERRACOTTA FIGURINES

TZONOU-HERBST, IOULIA NIKOLAOU
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1015883060

Abstract Details

2002, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences : Classics.
This study examines the archaeological find-contexts of 4593 Mycenaean terracotta figurines to reconstruct their use-life. Find-contexts of use, re-use, and discard are analyzed. Mycenae and its neighboring area, including Prosymna, is the geographical focus of this detailed analysis. Published and unpublished figurines of all types are recorded from cemetery and settlement deposits. Contexts of figurines from other sites in the Greek mainland and the islands of the Aegean, as well as from areas outside the Mycenaean world, are compared to Mycenae. My purpose is twofold; first, to catalogue patterns of activities and settings in which Mycenaeans used figurines; and, second, to recreate sets of behaviors involving figurines that are typical of Mycenaean culture. Analysis of the contexts leads to conclusions about the life histories of the figurines. Patterns of continuity and discontinuity emerge in their usage across the Mycenaean world. For all Mycenaeans figurines were ordinary objects that occurred with luxury and administrative objects. They were buried with men, women, and children, and in both rich and poor tombs. Discontinuities are also observed in values held within Mycenaean culture concerning the figurines. Figurines were not introduced in tombs at the same time, and burial with them was not equally practiced by all. Some thought they were religious and used them in ritual activities with beads and with kylikes at transition spaces, such as at, within doorways, and in front of walls surrounding monumental tombs. Others re-used them as stoppers and as temper in mudbrick. Finally, at the end of their use-life, some discarded them seemingly unceremoniously in household refuse in LH IIIA and LH IIIB. A simple, monolithic suggestion about the significance of the figurines does not explain the complexity of the archaeological find-contexts. Use, re-use, and discard show either that a functional transformation of the figurines occurred among believers or different groups of believers and non-believers existed among Mycenaeans. Depending on the user, they were religious icons or refuse. This study concludes that the meaning of the figurines changed from context to context depending on the people who used them and the activities in which they used them throughout their life histories.
Jack Davis (Advisor)
663 p.
Anthropology, Archaeology
Archaeology; Greece; Bronze Age Aegean; Mycenae; Late Helladic Civilization

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • TZONOU-HERBST, I. N. (2002). A CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF MYCENAEAN TERRACOTTA FIGURINES [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1015883060

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • TZONOU-HERBST, IOULIA. A CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF MYCENAEAN TERRACOTTA FIGURINES. 2002. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1015883060.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • TZONOU-HERBST, IOULIA. "A CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF MYCENAEAN TERRACOTTA FIGURINES." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2002. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1015883060

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1015883060
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© 2002, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.