Sparrow or pigeon figurine

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Provision of image

Inventory number

ΕΑΜ Χ 6691

Category

Bronzes

Period

Archaic Period

Date

End of 6th-beginning of 5th cent. BC

Dimensions

Height: 0.035 m
Length: 0.102 m
Width: 0.072 m

Material

Bronze

Location

First Floor Case 20, Νο 14

Description
Bibliography

Almost intact figurine of a small-size bird, perhaps a sparrow or pigeon. It is naturalistically rendered with folded legs, one open wing and one closed. The plumage is in the form of grilled scales that become longer towards the tail. The end of the closed wing is formed by oblong bands of short, oblique lines and the eyes are two incised circles around a central dot.

Sparrows, like pigeons, relate to Aphrodite, however, the particular object may have been dedicated to Athena, the principal deity on the Acropolis.

De Ridder, A., Bronzes Trouvés sur l' Acropole d'Athènes, Paris, 1896, σελ. 198, εικ. 198, αρ. κατ. 540
Foster, G.V., «The Bones from the Altar West of the Painted Stoa», Hesperia 53, 1984, σελ. 76-77, 82
Shear, L.T., «The Athenian Agora Excavations of 1980-1982», Hesperia 53, 1984, σελ. 37-40
Fuchs, W., Floren, J., Die griechische Plastik, I: Die geometrische und archaische Plastik, München, 1987, σελ. 306 υποσημ. 51
Arnott, W.G., Birds in the Ancient World from A to Z, New York, 2007, σελ. 177-179, 225-227
Μαχαίρα, B., Το Ιερό Αφροδίτης και Έρωτος στην Ιερά Οδό, Αθήνα, 2008, σελ. 51-52, 75-77
Καλτσάς, Ν., Shapiro, A. (επιμ.), Γυναικών λατρείες. Τελετουργίες και καθημερινότητα στην κλασική Αθήνα, Onassis Cultural Center, Νέα Υόρκη, 10 Δεκεμβρίου 2008 - 9 Μαΐου 2009, Νέα Υόρκη, 2009, σελ. 72, αρ. κατ. 30