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Document Details : Title: Hermes in Attic Black-Figured Vase-Painting Subtitle: Reflections on Contemporary Attica Author(s): ALEXANDRIDOU, Alexandra Journal: BABESCH Volume: 86 Date: 2011 Pages: 15-26 DOI: 10.2143/BAB.86.0.2128088 Abstract : ‘Corinthianising’, primarily expressed by the dominance of animal friezes, is the main characteristic of Attic early black-figured pottery. Figure-scenes are limited and deities are only rarely represented. The only exception is Hermes, identified by his kerykeion and depicted flanked by sirens or sphinxes on a number of vases. The present article presents and examines in detail these scenes in an attempt to interpret the god’s role and meaning, emphasizing on the vessels’ archaeological context. Having as principal aim to demonstrate that the contextual approach of iconography can offer new interesting insights into its social background, this study explores the association of Attic early 6th-century funerary and cult practices with the iconography of deities, drawing a number of conclusions concerning contemporary Attica. |
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