October 2018

Golden mouth-piece from Sindos of Thessaloniki

Χρυσό επιστόμιο από τη Σίνδο Θεσσαλονίκης. © ΑΜΘ-ΥΠΠΟΑ 2018-19

The golden mouth-piece in the form of a lozenge-shaped sheet is decorated with an incised engraved representation of a ship traveling in the sea.

The ship's elongated hull is divided by vertical lines into divisions corresponding to as many rowers as the eighteen oars are distributed in the form of parallel oblique lines starting from the lower part of the ship and extend downward to the right. The mast (in the middle) with the inflated sail (on the left) and the ropes (on the right) that hold it as well as the two rudders with the triangular ends at the rear of the ship, are linearly assigned.

On the left, the two circular eyes on one side of the ram, implying the presence of two ones on the other side, were probably apotropic to repel the dangers of navigation, perhaps referring to the four-eyed ships mentioned by Hesychius.

The shape of both the ram and the bow hints the form of a marine mammal's horned head, while the raised end of the stern resembles a snake head. The picture ends with four dolphins above and below the spur, and left and right of the sail.

The representation reflects an earlier painting tradition. It is not certain whether it conceals symbolism related to beliefs about the transition to the other world, or whether it merely reflects the familiarity of the locals with the ships and the marine world.

The sheet was used to cover the mouth of a dead woman buried circa 560 BC. at the ancient cemetery in Sindos of Thessaloniki. The retention of the mouth-piece would be done with thread passed through the holes in the edges of the sheet and tied behind the head.

You can see the exhibit at the permanent exhibition: Macedonia from the 7th century B.C. until the late Antiquity (case 26).

 

 

Golden mouth-piece from Sindos of Thessaloniki

 

The golden mouth-piece in the form of a lozenge-shaped sheet is decorated with an incised engraved representation of a ship traveling in the sea.

The ship's elongated hull is divided by vertical lines into divisions corresponding to as many rowers as the eighteen oars are distributed in the form of parallel oblique lines starting from the lower part of the ship and extend downward to the right. The mast (in the middle) with the inflated sail (on the left) and the ropes (on the right) that hold it as well as the two rudders with the triangular ends at the rear of the ship, are linearly assigned.

On the left, the two circular eyes on one side of the ram, implying the presence of two ones on the other side, were probably apotropic to repel the dangers of navigation, perhaps referring to the four-eyed ships mentioned by Hesychius.

The shape of both the ram and the bow hints the form of a marine mammal’s horned head, while the raised end of the stern resembles a snake head. The picture ends with four dolphins above and below the spur, and left and right of the sail.

The representation reflects an earlier painting tradition. It is not certain whether it conceals symbolism related to beliefs about the transition to the other world, or whether it merely reflects the familiarity of the locals with the ships and the marine world.

The sheet was used to cover the mouth of a dead woman buried circa 560 BC. at the ancient cemetery in Sindos of Thessaloniki. The retention of the mouth-piece would be done with thread passed through the holes in the edges of the sheet and tied behind the head.

 

You can see the exhibit at the permanent exhibition: Macedonia from the 7th century B.C. until the late Antiquity (case 26).