Abstract
This small-scale limestone statue is said to have been found in the Mudurnu District of Bolu Province (ancient Bithynia). When purchased by Mr Mehmet Durmaz, a registered collector, in 2002, it was in four joining pieces. The breaks appear to be old. The lower right leg and foot, and parts of the drapery are missing, while the head has been severely damaged as a result of being struck by a plough. Other parts of the figüre, notably her right hand and the fruit that she held in it, have also suffered damage in the same way. After restoration the height of the statue, including the shallow base, was found to be 0.73 m. The figüre stands, facing front, with her arms across her chest and midriff, holding probably a pomegranate in her right hand and a spindle in her left. Stylistically the figüre resembles Late Archaic statues of korai and goddesses. It is to be identified almost certainly as the mother goddess Cybele, who wears an ankle-length chiton with a himation över her shoulders. She also has a headdress in the form of a polos, but her hair parted to the sides is visible at the front. As regards jewellery she vvears a necklace, and a thick bracelet on each wrist. The back of the figüre is only roughly worked and is covered with a number of depressions, whose purpose is not fully understood. Its frontal appearance, however, suggests that the statue originally stood in a niche. Relatively few figures of Cybele are knovvn ffom Anatolia, and most of these are reliefs, not freestanding statues. Apart ffom the limestone figüre from Boğazköy, which dates to the mid-6th century BC, the only other standing marble statue of Cybele that is known was found at Çağköy near Ayaş. The workmanship of the latter example, however, is inferior to the present piece. Several of these reliefs and statues were probably intended to act as cult figures in open-air sanctuaries, as may be the case with the new statue. It, too, may be dated to the mid-6th century BC. The Mudurnu Cybele is unusual in that she holds a pomegranate, an attribute that is not found on other statues of the goddess from Central Anatolia. These have either vessels or birds in their hands. Other aspects for which no parallels are known are the spindle in her left hand and the jewellery that she vvears on her neck and vvrists. Indeed, the style, dress, and attributes of the Mudurnu statue provide new evidence for the iconography of Cybele. Her headdress, although different from the polos on other figures, finds a parallel in the Cybele relief found at Kalabaktepe near Miletus, vvhich is dated to the mid-6th century BC. Finally, her hair is rendered in a different vvay to that seen on other Central Anatolian Cybele figures, and is much more in keeping with the hairstyles of East Greek korai. Indeed, the present statue may profitably be compared with the headless kore found on the Athenian acropolis in many respects. Such comparisons raise the question of artistic influences. Were representations of the Phrygian goddess influenced by the sculptures of archaic Greece or vica versa? The new statue from Mudurnu therefore provides interesting material for further investigation and discussion
Abstract
This small-scale limestone statue is said to have been found in the Mudurnu District of Bolu Province (ancient Bithynia). When purchased by Mr Mehmet Durmaz, a registered collector, in 2002, it was in four joining pieces. The breaks appear to be old. The lower right leg and foot, and parts of the drapery are missing, while the head has been severely damaged as a result of being struck by a plough, Other parts of the figüre, notably her right hand and the fruit that she held in it, have also suffered damage in the same way.
After restoration the height of the statue, including the shallow base, was found to be 0.73 m. The figüre stands, facing front, with her arms across her chest and midriff, holding probably a pomegranate in her right hand and a spindle in her left.
Stylistically the figüre resembles Late Archaic statues of korai and goddesses. It is to be identified almost certainly as the mother goddess Cybele, who wears an ankle-length chiton with a himation över her shoulders. She also has a headdress in the form of a polos, but her hair parted to the sides is visible at the front. As regards jewellery she vvears a necklace, and a thick bracelet on each wrist. The back of the figüre is only roughly worked and is covered with a number of depressions, whose purpose is not fully understood. Its frontal appearance, however, suggests that the statue originally stood in a niche.
Relatively few fıgures of Cybele are known from Anatolia, and most of these are reliefs, not freestanding statues. Apart from the limestone figüre from Boğazköy, which dates to the mid-6th century BC, the only other standing marble statue of Cybele that is known was found at Çağköy near Ayaş. The workmanship of the latter example, hovvever, is inferior to the present piece. Several of these reliefs and statues were probably intended to act as cult fıgures in open-air sanctuaries, as may be the case with the new statue. It, too, may be dated to the mid-6th century BC.
The Mudurnu Cybele is unusual in that she holds a pomegranate, an attribute that is not found on other statues of the goddess from Central Anatolia. These have either vessels or birds in their hands. Other aspects for which no parallels are known are the spindle in her left hand and the jewellery that she wears on her neck and wrists. Indeed, the style, dress, and attributes of the Mudurnu statue provide new evidence for the iconography of Cybele. Her headdress, although different from the polos on other figures, finds a parallel in the Cybele relief found at Kalabaktepe near Miletus, which is dated to the mid-6th century BC.
Finally, her hair is rendered in a different way to that seen on other Central Anatolian Cybele figures, and is much more in keeping with the hairstyles of East Greek korai. Indeed, the present statue may profitably be compared with the headless kore found on the Athenian acropolis in many respects. Such comparisons raise the question of artistic influences. Were representations of the Phrygian goddess influenced by the sculptures of archaic Greece or vica versa? The new statue from Mudurnu therefore provides interesting material for further investigation and discussion.
Details
| Primary Language | Turkish |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Archaeology |
| Journal Section | Research Article |
| Authors | |
| Publication Date | May 1, 2004 |
| Submission Date | January 1, 2004 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2004 |
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