Ancient Selinus: A buried temple, myths and metopes, and a happy return
The site and the foundations of the early temple Y at Selinus, from about 550 BC, have not yet been found, so the shape and dimensions of its plan remain unknown; but the various parts of the elevation (columns, epistyle, roof terracottas, pediment) are adequately documented through reused material...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Oslo Library
2023-12-01
|
| Series: | Acta ad Archaeologiam et Artium Historiam Pertinentia |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.uio.no/acta/article/view/10489 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849315932843802624 |
|---|---|
| author | Erik Østby |
| author_facet | Erik Østby |
| author_sort | Erik Østby |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
The site and the foundations of the early temple Y at Selinus, from about 550 BC, have not yet been found, so the shape and dimensions of its plan remain unknown; but the various parts of the elevation (columns, epistyle, roof terracottas, pediment) are adequately documented through reused material in later fortifications, so that a reconstruction of the entire temple front, and an analysis of the surprisingly refined proportional system, can be proposed provided that it had the normal six columns in the front. Six of the ten metopes which would have decorated the frieze of such a front have been found, and preserved fragments of four more allow a tentative proposal for the arrangement of the frieze, which apparently included six and four metopes with two different framing systems, but identical dimensions. One metope with three female deities, shown in a meeting with flower buds in their hands, has received different interpretations; it probably shows Persephone returning to her mother Demeter, with Hekate assisting as a witness behind them. The scene can be connected with Persephone’s return as described in the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, but seems also to include elements from a Sicilian version of the myth where Persephone’s return was more closely connected with the annual cyclus of vegetation and fertility.
|
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-db6f6d0319f14dbf86fbf5f8e680de9c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0065-0900 2611-3686 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | University of Oslo Library |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta ad Archaeologiam et Artium Historiam Pertinentia |
| spelling | doaj-art-db6f6d0319f14dbf86fbf5f8e680de9c2025-08-20T03:51:59ZengUniversity of Oslo LibraryActa ad Archaeologiam et Artium Historiam Pertinentia0065-09002611-36862023-12-013623 N.S.10.5617/acta.10489Ancient Selinus: A buried temple, myths and metopes, and a happy returnErik Østby 0University of Bergen The site and the foundations of the early temple Y at Selinus, from about 550 BC, have not yet been found, so the shape and dimensions of its plan remain unknown; but the various parts of the elevation (columns, epistyle, roof terracottas, pediment) are adequately documented through reused material in later fortifications, so that a reconstruction of the entire temple front, and an analysis of the surprisingly refined proportional system, can be proposed provided that it had the normal six columns in the front. Six of the ten metopes which would have decorated the frieze of such a front have been found, and preserved fragments of four more allow a tentative proposal for the arrangement of the frieze, which apparently included six and four metopes with two different framing systems, but identical dimensions. One metope with three female deities, shown in a meeting with flower buds in their hands, has received different interpretations; it probably shows Persephone returning to her mother Demeter, with Hekate assisting as a witness behind them. The scene can be connected with Persephone’s return as described in the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, but seems also to include elements from a Sicilian version of the myth where Persephone’s return was more closely connected with the annual cyclus of vegetation and fertility. https://journals.uio.no/acta/article/view/10489Selinus, Greek temples, Greek mythology, metopes, Demeter, Persephone. |
| spellingShingle | Erik Østby Ancient Selinus: A buried temple, myths and metopes, and a happy return Acta ad Archaeologiam et Artium Historiam Pertinentia Selinus, Greek temples, Greek mythology, metopes, Demeter, Persephone. |
| title | Ancient Selinus: A buried temple, myths and metopes, and a happy return |
| title_full | Ancient Selinus: A buried temple, myths and metopes, and a happy return |
| title_fullStr | Ancient Selinus: A buried temple, myths and metopes, and a happy return |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ancient Selinus: A buried temple, myths and metopes, and a happy return |
| title_short | Ancient Selinus: A buried temple, myths and metopes, and a happy return |
| title_sort | ancient selinus a buried temple myths and metopes and a happy return |
| topic | Selinus, Greek temples, Greek mythology, metopes, Demeter, Persephone. |
| url | https://journals.uio.no/acta/article/view/10489 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT erikøstby ancientselinusaburiedtemplemythsandmetopesandahappyreturn |