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LACONIAN AND MESSENIAN PLAQUES WITH SEATED FIGURES: THE SOCIO-POLITICAL DIMENSION

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 February 2014

Gina Salapata
Gina Salapata*
Affiliation:
Massey University, New Zealand
*
[email protected]
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Abstract

The characteristic terracotta plaques with seated figures accompanied by snakes were created for local use, as they are hardly ever found outside Laconia and Messenia. They served a type of cult, the heroic, as shown by both their widespread distribution in this region and their complete absence from divine sanctuaries. Their generalised and standardised iconography made them versatile offerings that could be used in various contexts, with the seated figure acquiring the identity of the locally honoured hero in a specific sanctuary setting. Distribution patterns also show variety. In Laconia, plaque findspots show this type of offering was favoured much more in the region inhabited by the homoioi. By contrast, the Messenian plaques, offered both at Bronze Age tombs and at urban sanctuaries, must have been dedicated primarily by perioikoi. The similarities between Laconian and Messenian types of plaques need not be correlated with the contested ethnic identity of the Messenians. Rather, they should be attributed to the flexibility and variety in their use. The Messenian cults that attracted plaque dedications honoured heroes not necessarily because they were Achaean, but because they were celebrated local mythical or historical figures. Creating a link with the past through heroes was a well-established way to articulate a strong local and communal, but not necessarily ethnic, identity.

Λακωνικά και μεσσηνιακά πλακίδια με καθιστές μορφές: κοινωνικο-πολιτική διάσταση

Τα χαρακτηριστικά πήλινα πλακίδια με τις καθιστές μορφές που συνοδεύονται από φίδια κατασκευάστηκαν για τοπική χρήση, καθώς δεν έχουν βρεθεί σχεδόν ποτέ εκτός Λακωνίας και Μεσσηνίας. ϒπηρετούσαν μία ιδιαίτερη μορφή λατρείας, την ηρωική, όπως δείχνει τόσο η ευρεία εξάπλωσή τους σ' αυτήν την περιοχή όσο και η πλήρης απουσία τους από ιερά αφιερωμένα σε θεότητες. Χάρη στην γενικευμένη και τυποποιημένη εικονογραφία τους προσφέρονταν για ποικίλους σκοπούς και μπορούσαν να ανατεθούν σε διάφορα ηρώα, όπου η καθιστή μορφή ταυτιζόταν κάθε φορά με τον συγκεκριμένο τοπικό ήρωα. Ποικιλία επίσης παρατηρείται και στις περιοχές ανεύρεσης των πλακιδίων. Στη Λακωνία, από τα σημεία στα οποία βρέθηκαν τα πλακίδια συνάγεται ότι αυτό το είδος αναθήματος ήταν πολύ πιό δημοφιλές στις περιοχές που κατοικούνταν από τους «ομοίους». Αντίθετα, τα μεσσηνιακά πλακίδια που προσφέρονταν τόσο σε τάφους της εποχής του Χαλκού όσο και σε αστικά ιερά πρέπει να ήταν αφιερώματα κυρίως περιοίκων. Οι ομοιότητες που παρατηρούνται ανάμεσα στα λακωνικά και τα μεσσηνιακά πλακίδια δεν συσχετίζονται απαραίτητα με την επίμαχη εθνική ταυτότητα των Μεσσηνίων, αλλά πρέπει να αποδοθούν στην ευελιξία και την ποικιλία της χρήσης τους. Οι μεσσηνιακές λατρείες που προσέλκυσαν αφιερώσεις πλακιδίων δεν τιμούσαν απαραίτητα τους ήρωες επειδή ήταν Αχαιοί, αλλά επειδή ήταν λαμπρές μυθικές ή ιστορικές προσωπικότητες αυτού του τόπου. Η σύνδεση με το παρελθόν μέσω των ηρώων ήταν ένας καθιερωμένος τρόπος για την άρθρωση μιας ισχυρής τοπικής και κοινοτικής αλλά όχι κατ' ανάγκη εθνικής ταυτότητας.

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Articles
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Annual of the British School at Athens , Volume 108 , November 2013 , pp. 187 - 200
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Copyright © The Council, British School at Athens 2014 

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