Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T12:31:57.677Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

THE GOLD AND SILVER VESSELS AND OTHER PRECIOUS FINDS FROM THE THOLOS TOMB AT KOKLA IN THE ARGOLID

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2018

K. Demakopoulou  and
S. Aulsebrook
K. Demakopoulou*
Affiliation:
National Archaeological Museum, Athens
S. Aulsebrook*
Affiliation:
Independent researcher
*
[email protected]; [email protected]
[email protected]; [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The Late Helladic IIB–IIIA1 tholos in the Kokla necropolis is a particularly important and intriguing tomb that can provide us with interesting insights into the wider social landscape of the Argolid just prior to the emergence of the Mycenaean palaces. Architecturally, the tomb itself is a unique mix of features derived from tholoi and chamber tombs; its entrance is adorned with what must be one of the earliest-surviving Mycenaean frescoes. This tholos tomb had not been looted, a rare phenomenon for such tombs, and the precious finds, that is to say the gold, silver and ivory objects, are presented here in detail. These artworks include both Minoan and Mycenaean influences. The group of metal vessels is significant as it is one of the largest assemblages of metalware found from the post-Shaft Grave period on the Mycenaean Greek mainland. It appears that some of these objects were used for funerary ritual activity in conjunction with the bench in the tholos, whereas other objects seem to have been part of an assemblage of grave-goods. As no human remains were discovered, it is difficult to piece together the sequence of use for the tomb. Nevertheless, the publication of this material from the Kokla tholos is an important contribution to our knowledge of the Argolid during this period.

Χρυσά και αργυρά αγγεία και άλλα πολύτιμα αντικείμενα από τοv Θολωτό Τάφο της Κόκλας στην Αργολίδα

Ο Θολωτός Τάφος της Υστεροελλαδικής ΙΙΒ-ΙΙΙΑ1 περιόδου, που βρέθηκε στη Μυκηναϊκή νεκρόπολη στο χωριό Κόκλα της Αργολίδας, είναι ένας ιδιαίτερα σημαντικός τάφος με ενδιαφέροντα και ιδιότυπα χαρακτηριστικά. Έχει μεγάλη ιστορική σημασία ότι ανήκει στο ευρύτερο κοινωνικό τοπίο της Αργολίδας, λίγο πριν την Ανακτορική περίοδο με την εγκαθίδρυση των Μυκηναϊκών ανακτόρων. Αρχιτεκτονικά, ο τάφος αποτελεί ουσιαστικά συνδυασμό θολωτού και θαλαμωτού τάφου. Η πρόσοψή του έχει διακοσμηθεί με τοιχογραφία, που είναι από τις πρωϊμότερες σωζόμενες Μυκηναϊκές τοιχογραφίες. Ο τάφος βρέθηκε ασύλητος, πράγμα σπάνιο για τους θολωτούς τάφους, και τα πολύτιμα ευρήματά του, χρυσά, ασημένια και ελεφαντοστέινα, παρουσιάζονται στο άρθρο λεπτομερώς. Αυτά τα έργα τέχνης δείχνουν Μινωϊκή και Μυκηναϊκή επιρροή. Η ομάδα των αγγείων από μέταλλο έχει μεγάλη σημασία, επειδή αποτελεί ένα από τα μεγαλύτερα σύνολα έργων μεταλλοτεχνίας, που έχει βρεθεί στην Ηπειρωτική Ελλάδα μετά την εποχή των λακκοειδών τάφων των Ταφικών Κύκλων Α και Β των Μυκηνών. Είναι φανερό ότι μερικά από τα ευρήματα του τάφου, σε συσχέτιση με το θρανίο της θόλου, χρησιμοποιήθηκαν για νεκρικές τελετουργίες, ενώ τα άλλα αποτελούν ένα ενδιαφέρον σύνολο κτερισμάτων. Ταφή κατά χώραν δεν βρέθηκε μέσα στη θόλο, ούτε παραμερισμένα οστά. Αυτό δυσχεραίνει την κατανόηση της αλληλουχίας χρήσης του τάφου. Ωστόσο η δημοσίευση του υλικού από τον Θολωτό Τάφο της Κόκλας είναι μια σημαντική συμβολή στη γνώση μας για την ιστορία της Αργολίδας αυτής της περιόδου.

Type
Articles
Information
Annual of the British School at Athens , Volume 113 , November 2018 , pp. 119 - 142
Copyright
Copyright © The Council, British School at Athens 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Aulsebrook, S. 2018a. ‘Rethinking standardization: the social meanings of Mycenaean metal cups’, OJA 37, 147–63.Google Scholar
Aulsebrook, S. 2018b. ‘Chicken or egg? Rethinking the relationship between the silver and tinned ceramic vessel assemblages’, BSA 113.Google Scholar
Bendall, L. 2004. ‘Fit for a king? Hierarchy, exclusion, aspiration and desire in the social structure of Mycenaean banqueting’, in Halstead, P. and Barrett, J.C. (eds), Food, Cuisine and Society in Prehistoric Greece (Oxford), 105–35.Google Scholar
Betancourt, P.P. 1985. The History of Minoan Pottery (Princeton).Google Scholar
Cavanagh, W. 1998. ‘Innovation, conservatism and variation in Mycenaean funerary ritual’, in Branigan, K. (ed.), Cemetery and Society in the Aegean Bronze Age (Sheffield), 103–14.Google Scholar
Davis, E.N. 1977. The Vapheio Cups and Aegean Gold and Silver Ware (New York).Google Scholar
Demakopoulou, K. 1981. “Κόκλα (Θολωτός τάφος)” ArchDelt 36 (B′), 94–7.Google Scholar
Demakopoulou, K. 1982. “Κόκλα”, ArchDelt 37 (B′), 83–5.Google Scholar
Demakopoulou, K. (ed.) 1988. The Mycenaean World: Five Centuries of Early Greek Culture 1600–1100 BC (Athens).Google Scholar
Demakopoulou, K. 1990. ‘The burial ritual in the tholos tomb at Kokla, Argolis’, in Hägg, R. and Nordquist, G.C. (eds), Celebrations of Death and Divinity in the Bronze Age Argolid: Proceedings of the Sixth International Symposium at the Swedish Institute at Athens (Stockholm), 113–23.Google Scholar
Demakopoulou, K. 1993. ‘Argive Mycenaean pottery: evidence from the necropolis at Kokla’, in Zerner, C., Zerner, P. and Winder, J. (eds), Wace and Blegen: Pottery as Evidence for Trade in the Aegean Bronze Age 1939–1989 (Amsterdam), 57–80.Google Scholar
Demakopoulou, K. 1997. ‘Crete and the Argolid in the LM II/LH IIB to IIIA1 periods: evidence from Kokla’, in Driessen, J. and Farnoux, A. (eds), La Crète Mycénienne: actes de la Table Ronde Internationale 26–28 Mars 1991 (BCH supplement 30; Paris), 101–12.Google Scholar
Dickinson, O.T.P.K. 1972. ‘Late Helladic IIA and IIB: some evidence from Korakou’, BSA 67, 103–12.Google Scholar
Dickinson, O.T.P.K. 1977. The Origins of Mycenaean Civilisation (SIMA 49; Gothenburg).Google Scholar
Dickinson, O.T.P.K. 1989. ‘The Origins of Mycenaean Civilisation revisited’, in Laffineur, R. (ed.), Transition: le monde égéen du Bronze moyen au Bronze récent: actes de la deuxième Rencontre égéenne internationale de l'Université de Liège, 18–20 Avril 1988 (Liège), 131–6.Google Scholar
Evans, A.J. 1905. ‘The prehistoric tombs of Knossos’, Archaeologia 59, 391–562.Google Scholar
Evans, A.J. 1914. ‘The Tomb of the Double Axes’, Archaeologia 65, 1–94.Google Scholar
French, E.B. 2002. Mycenae: Agamemnon's Capital: The Site in its Setting (Stroud).Google Scholar
French, E.B. and Tomlinson, J.E. 1999. ‘The mainland “conical cup”’, in Betancourt, P.P., Karageorghis, V., Laffineur, R. and Niemeier, W.-D. (eds), Meletemata: Studies in Aegean Archaeology Presented to Malcolm H. Wiener as he Enters his 65th Year (Liège and Austin), 259–65.Google Scholar
Frödin, O. and Persson, A.W. 1938. Asine: Results of the Swedish Excavations 1922–1930 (Stockholm).Google Scholar
Furumark, A. 1972. Mycenaean Pottery I: Analysis and Classification (Stockholm).Google Scholar
Galaty, M.L. 1999. Nestor's Wine Cups: Investigating Ceramic Manufacture and Exchange in a Late Bronze Age Mycenaean State (Oxford).Google Scholar
Galaty, M.L. 2007. ‘Wealth ceramics, staple ceramics: pots and the Mycenaean palaces’, in Galaty, M.L. and Parkinson, W.A. (eds), Rethinking Mycenaean Palaces II, 2nd edn (Los Angeles), 74–86.Google Scholar
Gillis, C. 1990a. ‘Akrotiri and its neighbors to the south: conical cups again’, in Hardy, D.A., Doumas, C.G., Sakellarakis, J.A. and Warren, P.M. (eds), Thera and the Aegean World III. Vol. 1: Archaeology: Proceedings of the Third International Congress, Santorini, Greece, 3–9 September 1989 (London), 98–117.Google Scholar
Gillis, C. 1990b. Minoan Conical Cups: Form, Function and Significance (Gothenburg).Google Scholar
Hood, S. 1978. The Arts in Prehistoric Greece (Harmondsworth).Google Scholar
Karo, G. 1930–3. Die Schachtgräber von Mykenai (Munich).Google Scholar
Knappett, C. 1999. ‘Can't live without them: producing and consuming Minoan conical cups’, in Betancourt, P.P., Karageorghis, V., Laffineur, R. and Niemeier, W.-D. (eds), Meletemata: Studies in Aegean Archaeology Presented to Malcolm H. Wiener as he Enters his 65th Year (Liège and Austin), 415–20.Google Scholar
Knappett, C. and Hilditch, J. 2015. ‘Colonial cups? The Minoan plain handleless cup as icon and index’, in Glatz, C. (ed.), Plain Pottery Traditions of the Eastern Mediterranean and Near East: Production, Use, and Social Significance (Walnut Creek), 91–113.Google Scholar
Lis, B. 2008. ‘Cooked food in the Mycenaean feast: evidence from the cooking pots’, in Hitchcock, L.A., Laffineur, R. and Crowley, J. (eds), Dais: The Aegean Feast: Proceedings of the 12th International Aegean Conference (Liege and Austin), 141–50.Google Scholar
Matthäus, H. 1980. Die Bronzegefässe der kretisch-mykenischen Kultur (Prähistorische Bronzefunde 1; Munich).Google Scholar
Mountjoy, P.A. 1986. Mycenaean Decorated Pottery: A Guide to Identification (SIMA 73; Gothenburg).Google Scholar
Mountjoy, P.A. 1993. Mycenaean Pottery: An Introduction (Oxford).Google Scholar
Pelon, O. 1976. Tholoi, tumuli et cercles funéraires (Paris).Google Scholar
Persson, A.W. 1931. The Royal Tombs at Dendra near Midea (Lund).Google Scholar
Persson, A.W. 1942. New Tombs at Dendra near Midea (Lund).Google Scholar
Pini, I. (ed.) 1993. Kleinere griechische Sammlungen: Lamia, Zakynthos und weitere Länder des Ostmittelmeerraums (CMS 5, Supplement 1B; Berlin).Google Scholar
Poursat, J.-C. 1977. Catalogue des ivoires mycéniens du Musée National d'Athènes (Athens).Google Scholar
Rutter, J.B. 2001. ‘Review of Galaty, M.L. and Parkinson, W.A. (eds), Rethinking Mycenaean Palaces: New Interpretations of an Old Idea’, AJA 105, 345.Google Scholar
Santillo Frizell, B. 1984. ‘The tholos tomb at Berbati’, OpAth 15, 25–44.Google Scholar
Savignoni, L. 1904. ‘Scavi e scoperte nella necropoli di Phaestos’, MonAnt 14, 501–666.Google Scholar
Thomas, H. 1938–9. ‘The Acropolis Treasure’, BSA 39, 65–87.Google Scholar
Thomas, P.M. 2004. ‘Review of Galaty, M.L., Nestor's Wine Cups: Investigating Ceramic Manufacture and Exchange in a Late Bronze Age Mycenaean State’, AJA 108, 115–16.Google Scholar
Thomas, P.M. 2011. ‘Mycenaean tablewares and the curious careers of the angular kylix and shallow angular basin’, in Gauss, W., Lindblom, M., Angus, R., Smith, K. and Wright, J.C. (eds), Our Cups are Full: Pottery and Society in the Aegean Bronze Age: Papers Presented to Jeremy B. Rutter on the Occasion of his 65th Birthday (Oxford), 297–305.Google Scholar
Tournavitou, I. 1992. ‘Practical use and social function: a neglected aspect of Mycenaean pottery’, BSA 87, 181–210.Google Scholar
Tsountas, C. 1889. “Ἔρευναι ἐν τῇ Λακωνικῇ καὶ ὁ Τάφος τοῦ Βαφειοῦ”, ArchEph 1889, 130–71.Google Scholar
Tzedakis, Y. and Martlew, H. (eds) 1999. Minoans and Mycenaeans: Flavours of their Time: National Archaeological Museum 12 July – 27 November 1999 (Athens).Google Scholar
Wace, A.J.B. 1949. Mycenae: An Archaeological History and Guide (Princeton).Google Scholar
Wace, A.J.B., Heurtley, W.A., Lamb, W., Holland, L.B. and Boethius, C.A. 1921–3. ‘The report of the School excavations at Mycenae, 1921–1923 [corrected title: The report of the School excavations at Mycenae, 1920–1923]’, BSA 25, 1–434.Google Scholar
Wachsmann, S. 1987. Aegeans in the Theban Tombs (Leuven).Google Scholar
Warren, P.M. 1969. Minoan Stone Vases (Cambridge).Google Scholar
Weilhartner, J. 2012. ‘Religious offerings in the Linear B tablets: an attempt at their classification and some thoughts about their possible purpose’, in Varias, C. (ed.), Actas del simposio internacional: 55 Años de Micenología (1952–2007), Bellaterra, 12–13 de abril de 2007 (Barcelona), 207–31.Google Scholar
Wiener, M.H. 1984. ‘Pax Minoica versus Minoan thalassocracy in LM I: the tale of the conical cups’, in Hägg, R. and Marinatos, N. (eds), The Minoan Thalassocracy: Myth and Reality: Proceedings of the Third International Symposium at the Swedish Institute in Athens 31 May–5 June 1982 (Stockholm), 17–26.Google Scholar
Wiener, M.H. 1990. ‘The isles of Crete? The Minoan thalassocracy revisited’, in Hardy, D.A., Doumas, C.G., Sakellarakis, J.A. and Warren, P.M. (eds), Thera and the Aegean World III. Vol. 1: Archaeology: Proceedings of the Third International Congress, Santorini, Greece, 3–9 September 1989 (London), 128–61.Google Scholar
Wilkie, N.C. 1992. ‘The MME tholos tomb’, in McDonald, W.A. and Wilkie, N.C. (eds), Excavations at Nichoria in Southwest Greece II: The Bronze Age Occupation (Minneapolis), 231–344.Google Scholar
Xenaki-Sakellariou, A. 1985. Οι Θαλαμωτοί Τάφοιτων Μυκηνών: ανασκαφής Χρ. Τσούντα (1887–1898) (Paris).Google Scholar