The paper argues that it is possible to establish a connection, at the symbolic level, between the spinning top, in the shape attested for the Geometric period, and some extraordinary clay top-shaped pyxides, which could hardly have been used in daily life, but would have been suited as display objects in the funerary ceremonies of Geometric elites. Particularly striking is the frequency of these pointed pyxides in the shape of spinning tops, sometimes in association with “pseudo pyxides” (whose reference to the spinning top is even stronger), in tombs of subadults, particularly subadult females. This particular association leads to suggest that its symbolic framework is the one of the spinning top used as an omen for a good marriage, placed in tombs of aoroi, or prematurely died girls, before becoming brides and mothers.

A Turning World : A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Spinning Top / C. Lambrugo. ((Intervento presentato al convegno Locus Ludi tenutosi a Fribourg nel 2021.

A Turning World : A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Spinning Top

C. Lambrugo
2021

Abstract

The paper argues that it is possible to establish a connection, at the symbolic level, between the spinning top, in the shape attested for the Geometric period, and some extraordinary clay top-shaped pyxides, which could hardly have been used in daily life, but would have been suited as display objects in the funerary ceremonies of Geometric elites. Particularly striking is the frequency of these pointed pyxides in the shape of spinning tops, sometimes in association with “pseudo pyxides” (whose reference to the spinning top is even stronger), in tombs of subadults, particularly subadult females. This particular association leads to suggest that its symbolic framework is the one of the spinning top used as an omen for a good marriage, placed in tombs of aoroi, or prematurely died girls, before becoming brides and mothers.
21-apr-2021
Spinning Top; Geometric Pyxis; Athens
Settore L-ANT/07 - Archeologia Classica
Université de Fribourg
European Research Council
A Turning World : A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Spinning Top / C. Lambrugo. ((Intervento presentato al convegno Locus Ludi tenutosi a Fribourg nel 2021.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/845478
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