MOTIVE TEMATICE ÎN REPREZENTĂRILE AFRODITEI ÎN LUMINA DESCOPERIRILOR ARHEOLOGICE DE LA ALBEŞTI (JUD. CONSTANŢA)
THEMATIC MOTIFS IN APHRODITE’S REPRESENTATIONS BASED ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES FROM ALBEŞTI (CONSTANŢA COUNTY)

Summary/Abstract: This paper presents the ceramic figurative material from the Greek – native settlement at Albeşti (situated in the chora of Callatis colony). The pieces prove to be significant in outlining the spiritual life of the Hellenistic Age rural settlement. The approached method tries to refer to the known data concerning the attested deities in the colonies with Dorian common origin – Callatis, Chersones and Mesambria. In the same time, during the Hellenistic Age, the art representations preserved no more the native place features, but became common for a „Mediteranean” or „Pontic” type. We have selected from of the common representations series several ceramic applied ornaments bearing the representation of the protoma of a feminine deity with the hands on the bust. The series with rich representations in the North-Pontic area is assigned to different deities: Demeter (Olbia, Chersones, Kerkinitis), Kore (Olbia), Demeter or Kore (Čaika), Aphrodite (Chersones and Kerkinitis), nondesignated feminine deity (Nymphaeum, Tiritake, Myrmekion). Among the applied ornaments fragments from Albeşti, some are supposed to belong to Demeter, others to Kore or Aphrodite, with similar analogies to Olbia and Chersones samples. We mention a complete sample – applied ornament with Aphrodite representation together with Eros figures. A similar replication of this piece can be found in a sample from Chersones dated in the 3rd century B.C. A piece identical to ours was found in Callatis. If we take into consideration an Aphrodite mould with two Eros representations found long ago in Callatis, we can speak about a subject motif usual for the local wokshops. Something new for us is Aphrodite with dove in her hand type, of an older tradition, known on the teracotta pieces from Taman and Olbia. In Albeşti this type is present by several applied ornaments fragments, no alder than the 3rd century B.C. The seminude Aphrodite type is present by three or four fragmentary samples, on which we identify two components: seminude Aphrodite and Aphrodite sitting on a rock. The second component, named in succession „Aphrodite/woman/young woman sitting on a rock” can be found mostly in the North Pontic area, at Phanagoria, Pantikapaeum, Chersones and Gorgippia. The most representative piece of this series found at Albeşti has similar analogies at Chersones, in a sample dated in the 3rd century B.C. The pieces found in Albeşti used to be in some houses inventory. Their presence as cult objects implies the private (domestic) character of these cults; it is also possible there were other public cults, which, in the absence of some adequate arrangements, were taking place in private houses. The representations types have similarities in samples found in the Dorian cities Callatis and Chersones. A different component, of Ionian or Olbian tradition it is present as well.

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