Pistiros' Hoard of Sealings, III: Sealings Reflecting Greek Sculpture and Minor Arts at the Time of Alexander the Great
Abstract
The paper presents the third part of the analysis of the hoard of seal imprints found at Pistiros in square B'3, laying on the bottom of a vaulted oven, where it was hidden at the moment of immediate danger. 27 items were found in 2012, most of them consisting of double imprints, apparently confirming as nowadays signatures a contract or deal closed by two participants. The hoard was found in the context of a destruction by fire at ca. 310 BC.
The sealings discussed here include imprints of subjects reflecting the mainstream of greek monumental sculpture of the 4th century BC and the terracotta and bronze figurines of comic actors of attic Middle and late comedy. Numbers 3a and 6b were inspired from Egypt.
The set represents a case study focused at reflection of Greek monumental and minor art. The subjects of twenty sealings can be more or less recognized, seven are poorly preserved.
Reflections of monumental art remained popular on later Hellenistic and roman gems; grotesques, actor figures and egyptiazing subjects were less fortunate. Notably, the mice with astragals on no. 1a are unique.