1896.29.18

Collection type

Object

Description

Loom-weight of pottery with moulded sitting human figure and two holes at the top. [MJD 01/06/2009]

Geographical reference

Italy

Europe > Southern Europe > Italy

Puglia [Apulia] Provincia di Taranto Taranto

Person

Field collector Henry Balfour

PRM source Henry Balfour

Date / Period

Archaeological period: Ancient Greek Archaeological period: Iron Age

Date collected

By 1896

Acquisition information

Donated: 1896

Materials and processes

Material Pottery, Process Moulded, Process Perforated

Dimensions

Diameter: max 72 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1896.29.18

Research and responses

Yannis Galanakis suggested that this assemblage of 21 ceramic loom-weights from Taranto (1884.29.3-23) dates from the 4th century BC (Iron Age Classical Greek). [Dan Hicks 05/05/2012]

This object was examined by Dr Yannis Galanakis and Stella Skaltsa as part of the Fell funded project Characterizing the World Archaeology Collections. They advised that this was a loom-weight, not a fishing net weight. These loom-weights, unlike their more common and plainer conical and pyramidal counterparts, fall into two categories: discoid and horse-shaped, all mould-made or stamped with relief decoration. They date to the fourth century BC and stand out because of their rich iconographic representations including: Leda/Aphrodite with the swan; dolphins; owls; female heads; chariots pulled by birds, and other, rather, playful scenes. Primarily utilitarian objects, loom-weights could occasionally obtain a symbolic function, by being dedicated as votive offering in sanctuaries (see Foxhall 2008, 47: Loomweights from Pantanello. In Anonymous (ed.), The Study of Ancient Territories. Chersonesos and South Italy, 2006–2007 Annual Report, Institute of Classical Archaeology, The University of Texas at Austin, 46–7). This collection of loom-weights at the Museum is the largest in Oxford. [AS 06/01/2011]

The city of Taranto (Taras in ancient Greek), a coastal city in Apulia in South Italy, was founded in 706 BC by settlers from Sparta. The city flourished in the Archaic and Classical period, becoming one of the most important commercial and artistic centres in Magna Graecia. The pottery workshops of the fourth century BC produced fine pottery, known as Basilican. The modern city is built over the ancient Greek necropolis, where richly-furnished tombs have come to light. In the nineteenth century Taranto attracted the attention of scholars and collectors. Arthur Evans declared in his article of 1886 that ‘there are few sites in the Hellenic World that in recent years have been so prolific of discoveries as that of Tarentum’ (see Evans, A.J. 1886: Recent discoveries of Tarentine Terra-Cottas. The Journal of Hellenic Studies 7, 1–50). [AS 06/01/2011]

Search terms: Pottery, Figure, Loom Part, Weight