Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-24T02:07:39.101Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A possible portrait of Ptolemy I from Dedoplis Gora in Caucasian Iberia (Georgia)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 April 2021

David Gagoshidze
David Gagoshidze*
Affiliation:
Georgian National Museum
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract:

In 2017, during the archaeological excavations of room N24 of the Palace of Dedoplis Gora (Caucasian Iberia, Georgia), built in the 2nd–1st c. BCE, fragments of a small statuette carved from bone were discovered. The statuette is a miniature sphinx with a human head and may have been an element of furniture. The male head is adorned with the nemes, a headdress worn by pharaohs. In this article, I suggest that the head of the sphinx may portray Ptolemy I Soter, the first king of Ptolemaic Egypt. Some scholars believe that artifacts containing Ptolemaic portraits came to Georgia among diplomatic gifts sent by Mark Antony to Pharnabazos II, for it was he who had close relationships with the Ptolemaic court. In my opinion the bone sphinx with the head of Ptolemy I appeared in Caucasian Iberia together with these items.

Keywords

Caucasian IberiaDedoplis GoraHellenistic periodsphinxPtolemy I
Type
Archaeological Note
Information
Journal of Roman Archaeology , Volume 34 , Issue 1 , June 2021 , pp. 211 - 219
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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

Budzanowski, M. 2001. “A royal portrait from the Ptolemaic period in the Czartoryski Museum in Cracow.” In Studia archaeologica. Prace dedykowane profesorowi Januszowi A. Ostrowskiemu w sześćdziesięciolecie urodzin, ed. Papuci-Władyka, E. and Śliwa, J., 53–58. Krakow: Jagiellonian University Press.Google Scholar
Dundua, G. F. 1987. Нумизматика Античной Грузии. Tbilisi: Met︠s︡niereba.Google Scholar
Gagoshidze, D. 2018. “არადეთის ორგორის (დედოფლის გორის) არქეოლოგიური ექსპედიციის 2017 წლის საველე სამუშაოების მოკლე ანგარიში.” In 2017 წელს ჩატარებული არქეოლოგიური გათხრების მოკლე ანგარიშების კრებული, 30–33. Tbilisi: Ltd Forma.Google Scholar
Gagoshidze, D. 2019. “არადეთის ორგორის (დედოფლის გორის) არქეოლოგიური ექსპედიციის 2018 წლის საველე სამუშაოების მოკლე ანგარიში.” In 2018 წელს ჩატარებული არქეოლოგიური გათხრების მოკლე ანგარიშების კრებული, 185–89. Tbilisi: Ltd Forma.Google Scholar
Gagoshidze, I. 2001. “A royal palace in first-century Iberia: According to the archaeological material from Dedoplis Gora, Georgia.” In The Royal Palace Institution in the First Millennium BC: Regional Development and Cultural Interchange between East and West, ed. Nielsen, I., 259–84. Monographs of the Danish Institute at Athens 4. Aarhus: Aarhus University Press.Google Scholar
Gagoshidze, I. 2008a. “Dedopolis Gora: One of the most important archaeological sites on the territory of the ancient Iberia.” In Iberia and Rome: The Excavations of the Palace at Dedopolis Gora and the Roman Influence in the Caucasian Kingdom of Iberia, ed. Furtwängler, A., Gagoshidze, I., Löhr, H., and Ludwig, N., 41–4. Schriften des Zentrums für Archäologie und Kulturgeschichte des Schwarzmeerraumes 13. Langenweißbach: Beier & Beran.Google Scholar
Gagoshidze, I. 2008b. “Kartli in Hellenistic and Roman times: General aspects.” In Iberia and Rome: The Excavations of the Palace at Dedopolis Gora and the Roman Influence in the Caucasian Kingdom of Iberia, ed. Furtwängler, A., Gagoshidze, I., Löhr, H., and Ludwig, N., 1–40. Schriften des Zentrums für Archäologie und Kulturgeschichte des Schwarzmeerraumes 13. Langenweißbach: Beier & Beran.Google Scholar
Gagoshidze, I. 2015. “2013–2015 წლების არქეოლოგიური გათხრები დედოფლის გორაზე (ექსპრესს ინფორმაცია).” იბერია-კოლხეთი 11: 119–39.Google Scholar
Gagoshidze, I. 2017. “A Roman pantheon on a Zoroastrian altar.” Georgian National Museum Journal 3: 42–5.Google Scholar
Gagoshidze, I., and Rova, E.. 2018. “2013–2015 activities of the Georgian–Italian Shida Kartli Archaeological Project at Aradetis Orgora (Georgia).” In Proceedings of the 10th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East, ed. Horejs, B., Schwall, C., Müller, V., Luciani, M., Ritter, M., Guidetti, M., Salisbury, R. B., Hölfmayer, F., and Bürge, T., 497–510. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz.Google Scholar
Gobejishvili, G. 1959. “განვითარებული რკინის ხანის ძეგლები რიონის სათავეებში.” Georgian Archaeology: 190–206.Google Scholar
Gogiberidze, N. 1999. “ეგვიპტური ფაიანსის ამულეტები დედოფლის გორიდან”. Bulletin of the Georgian National Museum 43B: 106–14.Google Scholar
Gogiberidze, N. 2003–4. “ეგვიპტური მძივები დედოფლის გორის ანტიკური სასახლიდან.” Bulletin of the Georgian National Museum 45: 95–101.Google Scholar
Haggag, M. 2014. “Duality and fusion in the royal portraits of Ptolemaic Alexandria.” In Art et civilisations de l'Orient Hellenisé. Rencontres et échanges culturels d'Alexandre aux Sassanides. Hommage à Daniel Schlumberger, ed. Leriche, P., 75–81. Paris: Picard.Google Scholar
Javakhishvili, K. 2003. “ქართლის სამეფოსა და ეგვიპტის ურთიერთობის ისტორიიდან რომაულ ხანაში (გლიპტიკური მასალების მიხედვით).” Dziebani N12: 75–88.Google Scholar
Javakhishvili, K. 2008. “Engraved gems and impressions of seals and clay-bullae.” In Iberia and Rome: The Excavations of the Palace at Dedopolis Gora and the Roman Influence in the Caucasian Kingdom of Iberia, ed. Furtwängler, A., Gagoshidze, I., Löhr, H., and Ludwig, N., 191–222. Schriften des Zentrums für Archäologie und Kulturgeschichte des Schwarzmeerraumes 13. Langenweißbach: Beier & Beran.Google Scholar
Löhr, H. 2008. “Metal vessels and furniture.” In Iberia and Rome: The Excavations of the Palace at Dedopolis Gora and the Roman Influence in the Caucasian Kingdom of Iberia, ed. Furtwängler, A., Gagoshidze, I., Löhr, H., and Ludwig, N., 155–64. Schriften des Zentrums für Archäologie und Kulturgeschichte des Schwarzmeerraumes 13. Langenweißbach: Beier & Beran.Google Scholar
Melikishvili, G. 1959. К истории Древней Грузии. Tbilisi: Izd-vo. Akad. nauk Gruz.Google Scholar
Myśliwiec, K. 1973. “A contribution to the study of the Ptolemaic royal portrait.” ÉtTrav 7: 42–51.Google Scholar
Pakhomov, E. 1926–66. Монетные клады Азербаиджана и других республик, краев и областей Кавказа. 9 vols. Baku: Izd. O-va Obsled. i Izuchen.Google Scholar
Rotroff, S. I. 1988. “A Ptolemaic portrait in Athens.” In Proceedings of the 3rd Symposium on Ancient Greek and Related Pottery: Copenhagen, August 31–September 4, 1987, ed. Christiansen, J. and Melander, T., 516–23. Copenhagen: Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek and Thorvaldsen Museum.Google Scholar
Rubensohn, O. 1911. Hellenistisches Silbergerät in antiken Gipsabgüssen. Berlin: Curtius.Google Scholar
Saginashvili, M. 1970. ურბნისის სამაროვნის მინის ჭურჭელი. Tbilisi: Metsniereba.Google Scholar
Schachermeyr, F. 1986. Александр Македонский. Moscow: Nauka.Google Scholar
Sheroiza, M. 2008. “Monetary circulation in Iberia in the 1st century B.C.–1st century A.D.” In Iberia and Rome: The Excavations of the Palace at Dedopolis Gora and the Roman Influence in the Caucasian Kingdom of Iberia, ed. Furtwängler, A., Gagoshidze, I., Löhr, H., and Ludwig, N., 235–52. Schriften des Zentrums für Archäologie und Kulturgeschichte des Schwarzmeerraumes 13. Langenweißbach: Beier & Beran.Google Scholar
Stanwick, P. E. 2002. Portraits of the Ptolemies: Greek Kings as Egyptian Pharaohs. Austin: University of Texas Press.Google Scholar
Stanwick, P. E. 2004. “Regional styles in Ptolemaic royal portraits.” StädelJb n.s. 19: 399–420.Google Scholar
Sventsitskaia, I. S. 1982. “Эллинистический Египет.” In История Древнего Мира, Расцвет Древних Обшеств, ed. Diakonov, I. M., Neronova, V. D., and Sventsitskaia, I. S., 324–37. Moscow: Nauka.Google Scholar
Varazanashvili, O., Tsereteli, N., and Tsereteli, E.. 2011. Historical Earthquakes in Georgia (up to 1900): Source Analysis and Catalogue Compilation. Tbilisi: MVP.Google Scholar