Miniature plate

A

A
EN
- GR
- DE
- IT
- FR
- ES
VISIT
TICKETS

Provision of image

Inventory number

ΝΜΑ 403

Artist

Attic workshop

Category

Vessel

Period

Hellenistic Period

Date

300-275 BC

Dimensions

Height: 0.015 m
Rim diameter: 0.06 m
Base diameter: 0.04 m

Material

Clay

Location

Gallery of the Acropolis Slopes, underfloor case display

Description
Bibliography

Miniature pyre plate mended from many fragments. It was found in 2000 during the Makrygiannis plot excavation in a foundation ritual pit beneath the floor of House Λ (foundation ritual ΝΜΑ 16).

It is flat-bottomed and bears the imprints of the string dragged under the vessel in order to remove it from the potter’s wheel. The body is shallow with incurved walls and rounded rim. All over the surface are retained fire traces.

Pyre plates were produced specifically for ritual purposes. They symbolically substituted real serving vessels or contained offerings, such as dried fruits and nuts.

Ελευθεράτου, Σ. (επιμ.), Το Μουσείο και η Ανασκαφή. Ευρήματα από τον χώρο ανέγερσης του Νέου Μουσείου της Ακρόπολης, Αθήνα, 2006, σελ. 56, εικ. 128, αρ.κατ. 128β