| Descriptive Attribute | Value(s) |
|---|---|
| Type | Masks |
| Title | Button-eyed Grotesque Protome |
| Excavation Unit | 36 |
| Stratigraphic Unit | 3603 |
| Context | Found in a disturbed context, within a modern looter’s pit (EU 36/SU 3603). |
| Current Location | Larnaka District Archaeological Museum, Cyprus |
| Material | Terracotta |
| Height (cm) | 8.96 |
| Width (cm) | 6.4 |
| Date | 750 – 310 BCE |
| Thickness (cm) | 3.31 |
| Weight (kg) | 0.102 |
| Description | Terracotta grotesque miniature protome. The convex, ovoid face has a rounded chin and two horns (proper left broken) protrude vertically from the forehead and taper to a point. Applied button eyes are widely-set and asymmetrical. The wide mouth is incised with a gaping shape, with no lips, spanning the width of the face; small, narrow, rectangular teeth are delineated by deep rectangular grooves along the full range of the upper and lower jaw. Small, animallike ears, pointed at the top, were applied at the eye level (only proper right preserved). The back of the protome is convex. The fabric is very pale brown (10YR 8/4); there is no preserved pigment. |
| Commentary | The animal features (horns and ears); large, asymmetrical eyes; exaggerated and grimacing mouth; and absence of a nose give this protome a grotesque look. There are no exact parallels for AAP-AM-3080. The protome vaguely resembles terracotta grotesque masks found in Cypriot sanctuaries that have grimacing, open mouths with exposed teeth (Averett 2015: 25, cat. nos. 25, 29, 36, 65, 67, 98, 100, 107, 123, with references; for other examples from Malloura, see Averett 2018: 310, 315–16). AAP-AM-3080 differs from other grotesque masks because it lacks cutout eyes, facial striations, and is miniature in size and convex in form. In addition, the applied button eyes and horns are not paralleled in other grotesque examples (with the exception of two grotesque masks with horns, but not applied eyes: one from Kition-Kathari, see Karageorghis and Demas 1985: no. 553, pls. 149, 214; and another from Amathous, see Hermary 1996b; Walters 1903: 27, cat. no. A148). Without stratigraphic data or clear stylistic comparanda, dating AAP-AM-3080 is difficult; therefore, it is tentatively dated to the CA–CC when such grotesque masks were popular on the island. |
| Bibliography | Averett 2015: 14, fig. 9; 2018: 310, no. 28, fig 8 |
| Sketchfab Media URL |
Alternate link to 3D Model: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/aap-am-3080-c783fbdf91b74197a68244a8acd9b0ff
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| Descriptive Attribute | Value(s) |
|---|---|
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Consists of
Vocabulary: CIDOC Conceptual Reference Model (CRM) |
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Has type
Vocabulary: CIDOC Conceptual Reference Model (CRM) |
sculpture (visual works)
Vocabulary: Getty Art and Architecture Thesaurus Open Context References: sculpture (visual works) |
Suggested Citation
Derek Counts, Erin Averett, Kevin Garstki. (2020) "AAP-AM-3080 from Europe/Cyprus/Athienou-Malloura". In Visualizing Votive Practice: Exploring Limestone and Terracotta Sculpture from Athienou-Malloura through 3D Models. Derek B. Counts, Erin Walcek Averett, Kevin Garstki, Michael Toumazou (Ed). Released: 2020-07-28. Open Context. <https://opencontext.org/subjects/e9388a7b-ec1f-47f8-a223-52e2a65a1764> ARK (Archive): https://n2t.net/ark:/28722/k2tq68k6d
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