The G. Papailiakis Collection is located in the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki and includes a significant number of antiquities, among which the female protomes presented here. Although they are not numerous, they roughly represent...
moreThe G. Papailiakis Collection is located in the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki and includes a significant number of antiquities, among which the female protomes presented here. Although they are not numerous, they roughly represent the development of these specific artifacts in central Macedonia.
We may recognize eight iconographic types, which include head protomes and bust protomes. The dating and attribution of the protomes to a specific group of terracotta workshops is based on recently published excavation data from sealed dated contexts. The general diffusion of these iconographic types in Northern Greece is also presented.
The terracotta protome is an autonomous type of representation which survives until the late Hellenistic era. In the meantime, the type is constantly altered and developed, the production techniques change, while colors are used to highlight the facial features, the garments and the jewelry.
Excavation data appear to support the view that the protomes depict the Goddess who is connected with the life-cycle, birth, marriage, fertility, and death. During the Hellenistic period and in the wider frame of religious blending and syncretism, the Goddess sometimes adopts the visual characteristics of Eastern deities.
