Papers by Stelios Ieremias
Opuscula, 2023
The existence of an ancient city at Thessalian Vlochos was first established by the discovery in ... more The existence of an ancient city at Thessalian Vlochos was first established by the discovery in 1964 of several inscribed stelai at a quarry at the site, which in turn prompted its declaration as a protected archaeological zone. A large spoil-heap with mixed soils and quarry debris had been left after the closure of the quarry, and this was examined and removed as part of the ongoing Greek-Swedish archaeological collaboration at the site. Apart from quarry debris and rubbish, the soils of the heap yielded considerable amounts of pottery and tile, and also architectural members, terracotta figurines, stelai, marble statuettes, and votives. The mixed nature of the soils made all finds ex situ, but the composition of the material provides a transect of the chronology of the site at Vlochos, as well as strong indications of cult, including evidence for the cult of the Thessalian goddess Ennodia.
Opuscula. Annual of the Swedish Institutes at Athens and Rome, 2022
This paper presents preliminary results of the Palamas Archaeological Project relating to the Lat... more This paper presents preliminary results of the Palamas Archaeological Project relating to the Late Roman and Early Byzantine periods in the study area in western Thessaly, Greece. These periods are comparatively understudied in Thessaly, and the aim of this work is to highlight the extent of the material and the potential of investigating the archaeology of Late Antiquity in the region. The work was centred on excavations and survey at the site at Vlochos, alongside architectural survey at the neighbouring site on Kourtikiano hill. The paper also presents studies into Late Roman and Early Byzantine material found during cleaning at Vlochos. Additionally, an unpublished inscription spoliated in a church in nearby Palamas is presented. The results show a dynamic and detailed range of Late Antique activity in the area, adding significantly to our understanding of the post-Classical habitations on the western Thessalian plain.
BSA, 2021
Demetrias has yielded the largest number of terracotta figurines of a popular iconographic type o... more Demetrias has yielded the largest number of terracotta figurines of a popular iconographic type of the Hellenistic period: the 'kausia boy', shown standing, dressed in the chiton, chlamys, kausia and krepides. The rediscovery of the material from A.S. Arvanitopoulos' excavations at Demetrias in the early twentieth century has provided an opportunity to reassess the significance of this iconographic type in the city and in the wider Hellenistic world. Combining and comparing the material from Arvanitopoulos' excavations with that from other excavations in the city by the German Archaeological Institute and the Ephorate of Antiquities of Magnesia, it is now clear that the kausia boy figurines from Demetrias were discovered in various contexts, including sanctuaries, graves and the foundations of the royal palace (Anaktoron); the largest number was found in the sanctuary of Pasikrata. It has been possible to identify more than ten technical types, confirming the importance of these figures in the coroplastic production of the city. This paper also discusses the iconographic types of the 'shepherds', kausia-wearing boys holding the syrinx and the lagobolon, as well as the animal-carrying boys, since they too are wearing the same attire, and are mechanically related to the simple kausia boy types. The study of Demetrias' specimens, combined with the study of the distribution of these iconographic types in the Hellenistic world and the relevant iconographic, literary and epigraphic evidence enable its reinterpretation.
ΜΝΗΜΗΣ ΧΑΡΙΝ. Πρακτικά ημερίδας για τον Νίκο Μπιργάλια. , 2021
Conference Presentations by Stelios Ieremias
THE CONSTANT PARTICIPANT Constructing and Affirming Identity through Material Culture in Ancient Greek Sanctuaries and Modern Museums, 2024
International Workshop "Commonality and Diversity in the Hellenistic World" organised by Alexandros Laftsidis, hosted by the CReA-Patrimoine (ULB), Monday, May 15, 2023, 2023
The increased level of connectivity within the Hellenistic world led to the emergence of new patt... more The increased level of connectivity within the Hellenistic world led to the emergence of new patterns of cultural similarity over wide geographical areas, often termed material culture "koinai, " which operated vis-à-vis distinctively local cultural trajectories. These commonalities are frequently observed for different facets of the Hellenistic culture, such as architecture, sculpture, and pottery. The aim of this workshop is to bring together evidence from all different aspects of material culture, aiming at the better understanding of the Hellenistic world, as a world of commonality and local diversity. The workshop will focus on two main topics. The first concerns the mechanics involved in the emergence of these material "koinai. " Can the extensive mobility of artists and craftsmen alone account for the range of commonalities frequently observed, or were other factors also at play? Was this mobility free or somehow regulated? Was the course towards the emergence of these "koinai" a top-down or rather a bottom-up process? Studies on different types of material culture are expected to provide differentiated responses and shed more light on the various manifestations of the Hellenistic culture. The second topic is the search of identities. Taken from social psychology, "convergence" to or "divergence" from new material culture trends can paint a local identity more or less receptive to exogenous elements, frequently because of an adherence to a local traditional culture. Moreover, can local particularities reflect differentiated responses of local populations to social, religious, and/or economic issues? The goal is to demonstrate the complex and dynamic character of the Hellenistic world and to generate new insights into Hellenistic communities by approaching old and new evidence with innovative and fresh inquiries.
ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΚΟ ΜΟΥΣΕΙΟ ΒΟΛΟΥ / ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF VOLOS) 09.00-09.15 ΕΝΑΡΞΗ (Δημήτρης Παλιοθό... more ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΚΟ ΜΟΥΣΕΙΟ ΒΟΛΟΥ / ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF VOLOS) 09.00-09.15 ΕΝΑΡΞΗ (Δημήτρης Παλιοθόδωρος & Ανθή Μπάτζιου: αναφορά στην προσωπικότητα και στο έργο του συναδέλφου Γιάννη Α. Πίκουλα, που χάθηκε πρόωρα) ΘΕΣΣΑΛΙΑ ΠΡΟΪΣΤΟΡΙΚΑ Α ΣΥΝΕΔΡΙΑ Προεδρείο: Άρτεμις Καρναβά, Ανθή Μπάτζιου 09.15-09.30 Agathe Reingruber, Giorgos Toufexis, Grigorios Tsokas, Archaeological and geophysical investigations in Elateia 1, a flat extended site of the early MN (6000-5800 calBC) 09.30-09.45 Eva Alram-Stern-Γιώργος Τουφεξής, Η Πλατιά Μαγούλα Ζάρκου και πολιτισμική αλλαγή κατά την 6 η χιλιετία π.Χ. 09.45-10.00 Στέλλα Σουβατζή, Φυσικό και κοινωνικό τοπίο στη Νεολιθική Πλατιά Μαγούλα Ζάρκου 10.00-10.15 Νεκταρία Αλεξίου, Νεολιθικά ειδώλια από τον προϊστορικό οικισμό της Νεράιδας στην Λάρισα (οικόπεδο Παπαγεωργίου).
The terracottas from Demetrias: Imported moulds and local production
The focus of this paper is t... more The terracottas from Demetrias: Imported moulds and local production
The focus of this paper is the coroplastic art of ancient Demetrias, in the Hellenistic period. The material under study stemming from old excavations by A.S. Arvanitopoulos (1906-1920) and more recent discoveries is very plentiful, with over 700 specimens in our corpus. This body of material provides important information on manufacture, usage, and many new types. In this paper, I will present the imported moulds, the local production and the relationship between them. Through the imported moulds, Demetrias is shown to have trade links to Attica and Boeotia, esp. in the first years of its foundation, whereas increasingly during the second half of the 3rd c. and later the imports from the workshops of Pella and Veroia from Macedonia make their presence, as well as those
from Thessaloniki and Abdera. Especially important are the relations with the workshops of Myrina and Priene as well as with Alexandria and Cyrene in Northern Africa, but also with South Italy. Thus, Demetrias is evidently a cosmopolitan Hellenistic city with trade connections across the entire Mediterranean, a feature that complements the evidence from the famous painted stelai.
Demetrias has yielded the most specimens of a popular coroplastic type of the Hellenistic period,... more Demetrias has yielded the most specimens of a popular coroplastic type of the Hellenistic period, the "kausia boy" figurines wearing the chiton, chlamys and the kausia. The rediscovery of the material from Arvanitopoulos' excavations in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens and the Athanasakeio Museum of Volos has given the chance to reappraise this type in the ancient city of Demetrias, as well as in the Hellenistic world. Including the thus far published material, the kausia boy figurines in Demetrias amount to more than 160 specimens. These figurines have been unearthed in sanctuaries, graves and the foundations of the Anaktoron, but mostly in the sanctuary of Pasikrata. It has been possibly to identify more than 12 coroplastic types. The comparative study of Arvanitopoulos' finds and the published material from the city, combined with parallels from terracottas of the Hellenistic world as well as the iconography and the epigraphic evidence allow the reinterpretation of this iconographic type.
Greek Archaeology Group Seminar organisation by Stelios Ieremias
Book Reviews by Stelios Ieremias
Bryn Mawr Classical Review, 2022
Greek pottery, the Roman pottery and lamps, the terracotta figurines, the terracotta sculpture, a... more Greek pottery, the Roman pottery and lamps, the terracotta figurines, the terracotta sculpture, and the Greek lamps and offering trays, respectively.[1] The volume includes a contribution by Gloria Merker and Nancy Bookidis on the publication of the loomweights and textile tools. Bookidis also wrote the section "A Review of the Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore" and co-authored with Klinger the "Chronology and Conclusions" section. The volume is arranged in four chapters, an appendix on the
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Papers by Stelios Ieremias
Conference Presentations by Stelios Ieremias
The focus of this paper is the coroplastic art of ancient Demetrias, in the Hellenistic period. The material under study stemming from old excavations by A.S. Arvanitopoulos (1906-1920) and more recent discoveries is very plentiful, with over 700 specimens in our corpus. This body of material provides important information on manufacture, usage, and many new types. In this paper, I will present the imported moulds, the local production and the relationship between them. Through the imported moulds, Demetrias is shown to have trade links to Attica and Boeotia, esp. in the first years of its foundation, whereas increasingly during the second half of the 3rd c. and later the imports from the workshops of Pella and Veroia from Macedonia make their presence, as well as those
from Thessaloniki and Abdera. Especially important are the relations with the workshops of Myrina and Priene as well as with Alexandria and Cyrene in Northern Africa, but also with South Italy. Thus, Demetrias is evidently a cosmopolitan Hellenistic city with trade connections across the entire Mediterranean, a feature that complements the evidence from the famous painted stelai.
Greek Archaeology Group Seminar organisation by Stelios Ieremias
Book Reviews by Stelios Ieremias
Talks by Stelios Ieremias
The focus of this paper is the coroplastic art of ancient Demetrias, in the Hellenistic period. The material under study stemming from old excavations by A.S. Arvanitopoulos (1906-1920) and more recent discoveries is very plentiful, with over 700 specimens in our corpus. This body of material provides important information on manufacture, usage, and many new types. In this paper, I will present the imported moulds, the local production and the relationship between them. Through the imported moulds, Demetrias is shown to have trade links to Attica and Boeotia, esp. in the first years of its foundation, whereas increasingly during the second half of the 3rd c. and later the imports from the workshops of Pella and Veroia from Macedonia make their presence, as well as those
from Thessaloniki and Abdera. Especially important are the relations with the workshops of Myrina and Priene as well as with Alexandria and Cyrene in Northern Africa, but also with South Italy. Thus, Demetrias is evidently a cosmopolitan Hellenistic city with trade connections across the entire Mediterranean, a feature that complements the evidence from the famous painted stelai.