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    J. Valeva - Phiale

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    Gold and Silver Vessels from Ancient Thrace PartI Phialae Julia Valeva MIHO MUSEUM #2 56 Mee A Rem A IM 20063 BULLETIN OF MIHO MUSEUM VOLUME VI SHUMEI CULTURE FOUNDATION MARCH, 2005 Gold and Silver Vessels from Ancient Thrace Part I Phialae Julia Valeva * The ancient Thracians lived in the eastern part of the Balkan peninsula. They were “te most numerous people after the Indians” as Herodotus puts it in Book V (v. 3) of his Histories, but they were divided into separate tribes, often hostile to each other. Therefore the Thracians did not manage to form a lasting political organization until the Odrysian state was founded at the very beginning of the 5 century BC. They also fell early under the cultural influence of the ancient Greeks. On the other hand, Greek mythology reveals that Thracian religion had a noteworthy impact on the Greek one and Thracian heroes, like Orpheus and Rhesus, took part in the most important mythologized historical events like the Adventure of the Argonauts (which reflects moments of the Greek colonization) and the Trojan War. Thrace was also famous for its metal mines +h Thrace") and Thracian princes were kknown for th wealth. An important part of this wealth consisted in vessels made of gold and silver. The Homeri epic poems, which are the oldest written source about the Thracians and their art, provide us with suggestive verses related to our subject. Thus, Priam, the king of Troy, when preparing the gifts for the ransom of Hector's body “weighed out ten talents of gold, and brought moreover two burnished tripods, four cauldrons, and a very beautiful cup which the Thracians had given him when ke had gone to them on an embassy; it was very precious, but he grudged rot even this, so eager was he to ransom the body of his son.” (Homer, Mliad XXIV, 228-234) In the Odyssey as well we find a fragment, which tells that (mythical) Thracian kings, such Maro, Dionysos’ important wealth in the form of wrought gold descendant, accumulated “With me [Odysseus tells] I had a goatskin {full of the dark sweet wine, which Maro, son of Euanthes: ad given me, the priest of Apollo, the god who used to match over Ismaros {in Thrace]. And he had given it me because we had protected him with his child and his wife, out of reverence: for he dwelt in @ wooded grove of Phoebus Apollo, And he gave me splendid gifs: of wellwrought gold he gave me seven talents, and he gave me a mixing-bowl all af silver; and besides these, wine, wherewith he filed twelve jars in all, wine sweet and unmixed, a drink divine.” (Homer, Odyssey 9. 195-208) The archaeological finds from Bulgaria corroborate the reality behind Homer's beautiful tale, Two large golden bowls, the first one found on the island of Belene on the Danube, and the second one ~ in Kazichene, a district of Sofia, reveal that precious vessels were highly valued both for their price and beauty in Early Iron age Thrace. The circumstances oftheir discovery show however, that their value as sacred vessels was Their deposition underground was presumably ritual: this is even more important. especially clear in the case of the Kazichene find, in which the golden bowl was put into a clay vessel, which, in its turn was put into a bronze cauldron (Fig.1). Use of precious vessels in sacred rites was traditional in Thrace as shown by the spectacular Late Bronze age treasure, discovered in the village of Vulchitrun, Institute of Art Studies Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia Gold and Siver Vessels from Aacient Thrace Part Phinle 9 2» ‘The bowls from both Belene and Kazichene have high vertical rims, narrow shoulders and spherical bodies. The bulges that decorate the bowl from Belene remind us of the almondlike relief motifs on the Near Eastern phialae. The decoration of the Kazichene bowl consists of radiating flutes (Fig.1). This vessel is difficult to date because the spiral ornament on its bottom is known both in Late Bronze and Early Iron age. Its shape, however, especially the vertical rim and the flutes, recalls late Early Iron age vessels, e.g. the golden bowl from Victoria and Albert museum in London. And if we accept the suggested 7 century BC dating of the bronze cauldron from the same Kazichene find, the creation of the golden bow! should not be removed too far from it. 1 ‘would also add that similar spiral ornament can be seen much later, e.g. on phiale no, 58 from the Rogozen treasure, dated to the 54 century BC. A bronze phiale, found in the village of Sofronievo, is believed to be the earliest known phiale from ancient Thrace. It has a flat rim and smooth body with beautiful simple shape, its centre surrounded by two concentric ribs (Fig.2). Relief circles are a widespread ornamentation in Late Bronze and Early Iron age artifacts. The phiale from Sofronievo can be dated approximately to the early 6% century, if not the late ™ century BC on the basis of its comparison with bronze Phialae from the sanctuary of Hera Limenia in Perachora, Corinth, ‘The bronze phialae appeared in the Balkans in result of contacts with the Middle Bast, where vessels of this type have been produced as early as Tate 8 and early 7* centuries BC (in Luristan and Northern Syria: Sindjirli and Nimrud). The inscription in Aramaic on a phiale from Luristan provides us with positive dating c. 600 BC for at least one of these objects The “phiale mesomphalos”, that is the phiale with a small projecting hump from its centre (omphatos (Gr.], wmbo (Lat.]), which serves to hold it more easily with the fingers, appeared during the 7 century BC; its shallow variant ~ during the 6" century BC, The phialae have either plain oF decorated bodies, There are several types of ornamental design, one of which is based on the motif of the lotus bud or flower. Created in Egypt, this motif was adopted and largely used in the Achaemenid ornamentation, ‘The gold phiale, found in the village of Daskeal Atanasovo (Fig3) was indeed imported from Although considerable weight of 809.5 g, Its centre is Persia rather shallow, it has a surrounded by one concentric rib. Eighteen strongly stylized lotus flowers, each having three petals, radiate up the sides from a ribbed festoon. All leaves have pointed tops. The phiale can be dated to the end of 6! — BC on the basis ofits parallels among the bronze phialae from the Adam collection and Perachora (Fig). A bronze 6 century phiale, probably silver-plated, with the same lotustype decoration of beginning of 5! century the body and an omphalos, surrounded by relict circles, was discovered in grave VI of the necropolis of Trebenischie (Fig.5). Situated today in the Republic of Macedonia, in antiquity this was a borderland between Illyrian, Thracian and Macedonian tribes. The similarity in design of the cited vessels from this area suggests that at the end of the 6% century BC there was a considerable diffusion of phialae with omphalos and decoration inspired by lotusflowers among the Balkan tribes and in Greece. This was actually the period of Persian domination in the southeastern part of the peninsula, which started with the Scythian campaign of Darius the Great in 513. BC (Herodotus IV. $3) and ended with the battle of Plataea (479 BC). During the Persian presence in Burope, Thrace, several Greek cities of the northern Aegean and Macedonia were organized in satrapies. And we can be sure that this was the time of further penetration of Persian luxurious abjects here, either as booty or in exchange. It is also probably not by chance that exactly after the end of the 6" century BC there was a progressive increase in number of vessels made of silver and gold (to compare, only one phiale out of the big find in Perachora was made of silver). At the beginning of 5! century BC Pindar chants the silver bowls” in his IX Pythian ode *Adrast” (v. 48 ft) “Peace loves The symposium, but wictory increases With new bloom tothe accompaniment of gentle song, And the voice becomes confident beside the winebowl Let someone mix that sweet prompter of the revel, And let hin serve the powerful child ofthe vine in the Silver bowls whick his horses once won for Chromios And brought to him along with the duly woven Crowns of Leto’ son From holy Sityon..” During these centuries the Achaemenid tradition in the production of luxurious metal vessels continued to make impact on Greek toreutics. After adopting and perpetuating some shapes of Persian vessels, as well as principles of their decoration, Greece itself became a centre of dissemination of precious vessels, Some of them penetrated deep into Europe ~ a revealing example is the silver phiale with gilded omphalos, found among other remarkably rich grave-goods in an Early Iron age burial of a Celtic princess in Vix (Burgundy, France): the phiale has been dated to the end of the 6 century BC. ‘The same dating has been suggested for the burial in the Mushovitsa mound, among the grave goods of which there is a silver phiale. The vessel ke motifs and lotus flowers (Fig.6). The almond motif is decorated with alternating bulging almond: is Persian, developed from older Mesopotamian forms The phiale decorated with almonds was adopted in Greece as several representations on vases show, e.g. on a fragment of a vase from Euphronios (Fig.7) and in the hands of Hermes on a vase from Hermaios () ~ both vases are dated c. 510 BC The combination of almonds and lotus flowers was created in Persia, wherefrom we get many suggestive examples, e.g. the fine phiale, whieh inscriptions says that it was produced “in the house of the King of the kings” Artaxerxes 1 (465- 425). Almonds could alternate with other motifs as shown from the Achaemenid silver phiale at the MIHO MUSEUM: it has a largely opened mouth and body is decorated with alternating hollow almonds and silver appliqués showing fighting Persian king and lion, The phiale is dated to the 5! century BC and can be qualified as one of the most luxurious objects of this kind, The decoration with alternating almonds and lotus flowers was however the most popular. We see it on phiale no, 42 from the Rogozen treasure: here (Fig.8), big undeveloped lotus flowers are combined with almonds in high reli, their sharp ends turned toward the omphalos. A head of Apollo en face has been hammered on the umbo during a second period of the vessel's functioning: scholars believe that it became a piece of a small set used in rituals honouring the god of the Sun (ig). Three more phialae and a jug bearing the inscription “Kotyos, Apollo's child / servant” (Komos Anch2évos nats) were part of the same set. Thus we have a ferminus ante quem for the production of the phiale no, 42 ~ the reign of the Thracian king Kotys 1 (283-359 BC) however been created earlier, probably at the it could beginning of the 4 century BC. Some of the phialae discovered in Thrace have no decoration. It is believed that the earliest among them is phiale no. 27 (Fig.10) from the Rogozen treasure, since on the underside of its mouth we read the name Satokos, who might be the son of Sitalces, son of Teres, the founder of the Odrysian state. The important role of Sitalces in the GrecoMacedonian relations has been described by Diodorus Siculus in his Library of History (XI, 50, 1-7 and XII. 51. 2). Most probably this Satokos was really the Thracian prince, the only mention of whom comes from an Athenian dated c. 425 BC. Even before the discovery of the Rogozen treaure, the epigraphic document, phialae with smooth bodies were usually dated to the end of the 5 and the beginning of the 4* century BC, as the phialae from Brezovo, Another phiale with plain body from the Rogozen treasure Gold and Siver Vessels from Ancient Thrace Part Phialae a received the same dating. In the early 5 century BC the decoration of the phialae with radial flutes springing from the omphalos, thus resembling an open flower, became very popular. It existed on vessels from the 6 century BC, as shown by the Perachora find, but in the 5! century and still more during the next century, this became the most widespread Phialae decoration. The design is actually very old it was created for cups made of precious metals in Western Iran during the 14" and 13 century BC. Ik would remain eventually in use for centuries as seen from a vessel with spout and handle decorated with two waterbirds, found in Northwestern Iran and dated to the 9” — 7 century BC. Another revealing example is the golden vessel from Western Iran (8% ~ 7° century BO), whose body is decorated with radial rays with alternating, endings in the form of antelope’s heads and ribbed almonds. The radial fates, which can be named “leaves” or, sometimes, tongues, because of their shape, represent in fact variations of the rosette, the most popular ornamental motif in Assyrian and Persian art, The Achaemenid reliefs in Persepolis show high phialae decorated with flutesleaves in the hands of some participants, in the procession of the gifts (tribute) ~ bearers. An opinion was expressed that this same type of phialae was typical for Phrygia, from where it spread around the Eastern Mediterranean world, It was adopted in Greece as shown by the find of bronze phialae with this type of decoration from the sanctuary of Hera in Perachora. Greek export in near or remote countries like Thrace, Scythia, Colehi production, which on its side perpetuated the Macedonia made a strong impact on local forms, pattems, motifs and techniques. In ancient Thrace the phiale from Kukuva Mogila is the earliest example of this type (Fig11) Of considerable weight (720 g) and harmonious form with clear volumes, it resembles a large marguerite. If it was produced in Thrace, as scholars believe, it would obviously have been spired from a Persian original. The same burial contains also a jug of a typical o1 tal shape and an Achaemenid amphora. Both vessels are decorated with tonguelike (or leavestike) flutes, Their dating goes together with that of the phiale the early 5! century BC. ‘The number of the phialae from the 5 and 4! century BC vigorously increases as compared to the previous century. It is difficult indeed to date them in narrower limits, It is even more dit particularly because of the constant transfer of cult to identify the centres of their production precious vessels among Thrace, Persia, Scythia, Colchis, A big series of phialae has been discovered in Macedonia, the village of Raduvene, district of Lovech. They are of different types but all have omphalos Several among them are deep and have no Pm phialae decoration, resembling represented on the walls of the Apadana stairs in closely the Persepolis (Fig.12). The other phialae from Raduvene are shallow, of Achaemenid shape as well, but this time with flattened spherical body: and widely opened mouth (Fig.t3 a, 6). The phialae of the second type are all decorated with leaves radiating from the omphalos in the shape of a rosette. Small sharp dartslike leaves appear between the rounded tips of the big leaves. The distance between the omphalos and the bottom of the leaves is decorated in different ways with pearls or zigzag motif. Several phialae from the beginning of the 4" century BC witness the continuing popularity of the Achaemenid type of phialae in Thrace. Three phialae discovered in the village of Alexandrovo, district of Lovech, are of high manufacture and beautiful design. One of them has smooth body, the other two are decorated with flutesleaves similarly to the phiale from Kukuva mogila. One of them has a gilded umbo (Fig.14) The biggest number of phialae, decorated with leaves, radiating from the omphalos, comes from the Rogozen treasure. Each phiale however has a peculiarity of its own. Some, like phiale no, 1, are particularly well executed and designed. Fig. 18 Fig.22 Fig.24 Fig.21 Fig23 Other like no, 38, present local interpretation of the original design. Phiale no. 1 (Fig.15) has no widened mouth, which clasities it as a Greek type phiale. Its body is decorated with a regular net of radiating flutespetals. The omphalos is encircled by concentric ribs, strings of pearls and zigzag ornament. The suggested dating of the phiale is the first half of the 4 century BC [A variation of the fluted type of decoration results in separation of the flutes in two parts, arranged respectively on the shoulders and the body of the phiale. Similar phialae, made of bronze, were discovered in the Perachora sanctuary of Hera and have been dated to the 6* century BC. In Thrace this type of decoration is widespread, applied usually on phialae with widely ‘opened mouth. The craftsmanship is local and the time of manufacturing is the 4" century BC: ee. the Rogozen phialae nos, 50, 54-57, 61, 63, 66, 70 Fig.16) The Rogozen treasure contains several phialae, prominent for their sophisticated ornamentation (Fig.17). Phiale no. 2 (Fig.18) is decorated with alternating almondlike motifs and lotus flowers. As already stated, this design was a creation of Persian craitsmen. The high style of the Rogozen phiale no, 2 is based on the clear graphism of the design in contrast to the plasticity of the almonidlike motifs. The omphalos is gilded Interestingly enough, there is a very close analogy that comes from the archaic necropolis of Sindos ~ a silver phiale with gilt omphialos and almost the same design based on almonds and lotus flowers Fig.19). The phiale from the necropolis of Sindos was dated to 510-500 BC and therefore the dating of the Rogozen exemplar should also fall around this decade, Fortunately, we have another corroboration for this dating - the ornament on the foot of the bige volute crater from tomb no. 1 in Trebenishte. The frieze on the foot comprises alternating palmettes with three big leaves and almonds, all related through a stylized waving stem (Fig.20). All elements have double outlines. In the halfoval fields, formed by the waving stem, there are lotus flowers, each diverging into two palmettes (or lotus flowers) with three petals, The frieze is bordered on both sides by strings of pearls. The similarity in ornamentation that we observe on the cited vessels directs us on one hand toward their secure dating (he end of the 6 century BC), and on the other, determines an area, in which this design circulated, i.e. the tervitory where Thracians and Macedonians lived The design, however, was created in Near Eastern ateliers during the 7° century BC and became popular during the 6 century BC. It is noteworthy that the described elements of the design appear fon some bases of columns from the Apadana (522- 486) in Persepolis, the reception hall of the Persian kings (Fig.21) On a phiale from the v lage of Bukjovts (Fig.22) the vertical flutes on the lower part of the body terminate with the same type of lotuses with ized. Two three petals, this time more st horizontal flutes that run along the middle of the vessel suggest that this phiale may have been, if not a genuine Persian vessel, at least a copy of a Persian original Alternating lotus flowers and almondlike motifs decorate the Rogozen phiale no. 81 as well (Fig.28). Unlike the phiale no. 2, here, the effect derives from the emphasized relief and the dynamic rhythm of forms. The light flickers on the hundreds of bigger and smaller almonds, lotus flowers and beechnuts. As if this stylized vegetation would burst any moment with a real vigour, full of life, Two ropelike festoons (garlands) imitated by small parallel incisions, give a graphic accent to the design. It is also this specific ~ local ~ stylistic detail that situates phiale no. 81 firmly in the 4 century BC, An earlier phiale from Scythia, decorated with similar embossed almoncls and lotus-palmettes leaves, but soberly and without festoons, clearly illustrates the transformation that took place in the course of time and in different cultural ambiance (Fi Phiale no, 97 is the most refined, I would say = regal ~ vessel in the whole Rogozen treasure Gold and Siver Vesels from Ancient Thrace Part 1 Phiale a 2 (Fig.25). It has a_ perfect, symmetrical design. The omphalos is surrounded well balanced, by fourteen leaves with sharp tops, behind which there are spiny leaves resembling arrow points. ‘The main frieze contains alternating palettes and couples of griffins. The iconography of the griffins derives from Near Eastern models but has a clear Greek impact, developed during the Orientalizing There discrepancy between the vigorous graphism of the and Archaic style is some stylistic riffin wings and the soft modeling of the rear parts of the animals. These are manneristic accents exalted also by the curves of the tals, which encircle the palmettes. Phiale no, 97 was ‘undoubtedly imported in Thrace. It does belong, neither in iconography, nor in style to Thracian art. It was however highly appreciated for its beauty and became part of the treasury of a noble Thracian Otherwise, many of the Rogozen phialae were local production. Probably, most of the phialae discovered in other parts of Bulgaria, have also been created by Thracian silversmiths. Undeniable is the local manufacturing of phiale no. 80 (Fig.26) The phialae, decorated with alternating animal heads and acoms, have been created in Thracian ateliers as well. Phialae 94 and 95 are almost identical. Their bodies are decorated with friezes, each comprising alternating six heads of bulls in frontal view and six acorns, their points turned toward the centre (Fig.27). The stylization of the animal heads is typical for Thracian art, but the iconography is Greck. Numerous are the phialae from all around the eastern Mediterranean, decorated with heads of animals, people or mythical creatures, They are usually combined with vegetal motifs. On phiale 99 from the Rogozen treasure the inner frieze includes alternating lotus flowers and almonds, while the outer frieze shows women’s heads alternating with three- petalspalmettes (Fig.28), Most characteristic is the plaited hair of the women, the shape of their eyes and the serious, even grim look of their faces - something that is familiar to scholars from other Thracian e.g. the caryatids in the Sveshtari tomb. The combination of heads and monuments as well plants is widely attested in Thracian toreutics: we see it on phiale no. 100 from the same Rogozen treasure, on the scyphos from Strelcha, on a vessel from the Lukovit treasure (Fig.29). the splendid phiale from the Panagiurishte treasure, as well as some jewellery like the necklace from Bukjovts. It is widely accepted that the women are images of the Great Goddess, mistress of the vegetal world, of life and resurrection, Confirmation for this interpretation can be drawn from other vessels decorated with di ythian bu Kerch included a golden phiale, weighting 698 g, je images. Thus, the rich under the tumulus KhOba near decorated with heads of bearded Seythians and Medusa(s}. Another Scythian phiale, is time made of silver, is decorated with Silenus’ heads, acting both as apotropaic images and ornamental motifs (Fig.90), Similar luxurious gold and silver vessels witness the considerable wealth concentrated in the hands of the barbaric king’. and nobles, They also show the unlimited variety of forms, motifs and stylistic interpretations in exchange among the ateliers around the eastern Mediterranean. The influx of wealth in Macedonia, Greece, Thrace and Scythia after the fall of the Persian Empire provoked an unprecedented production of luxurious artifacts and gave a mighty impetus to creativeness and new techniques, The exceptional gold treasure found in Panagjurishte (Bulgaria) is a brilliant example of the spectacular bloom of arts during the Early Hellenism. The phiale in this treasure is decorated with heads of Negroes and acorns, arranged in concentric circles around the omphalos (Fig.31). All heads are separated from one another by palmettes and lotus flowers. The mouth has a solid rim, under which on the inner side the weight of the vessel is marked, once in drachms, and also in staters of the city of Lampsacus on the south side of the Propontis (Sea of Marmara) A very luxurious phiale from the end of the Fig.26 Fig.30 5° century BC has been discovered in the Bashova mogila burial. Its Greek origin is undeniable, revealed by its shape and iconography of the images that decorate the inner side Engraved and gilded they represent chariot race. The phiale is made of silver. There is an inscription on it - AASAAEME, apparently the name of the owner. The phiale, being a drinking vessel, has naturally an everyday use. The archaeological context of some finds, as well as some images reveal its ritual function. On a recently discovered ring from the burial in the village of Zlati tsa, there is an image, which shows a woman holding a phiale, and a rider in front of her (Fig.32). In my opinion it is a scene of libation, an offering to the gods for the success and victory of the warrior. The central scene in the Kazanluk tomb shows the Thracian prince, who is taking part in a funerary banquet together with his consort, holding a deep silver phiale (painted blue) in his right hand (Fig.33). In relation to the function of the phaile or of vessel in general in religious ceremonies in antiquity it would be appropriate to recall the as described by Herodotus in his Histories (IV. 5). 1 take the liberty of making that reference because of the proximity Scythian genealogic legend between Thracian and Scythian art and ideology: “According to the account which the Seythians themselves give, they are the youngest of all nations. Their tradition is as follows. A certain Targitaus was the first man who ever lived in their country. Targitaus..begat three sons, Leipoxais, Arpoxais, and Colasais, who was the youngest born of the three. While they still ruled the land, there fell from the sky four implements, all of gold-a plough, a yoke, a battleare’, and a drinkingeup. The eldest of the brothers perceived them first, and approached to pick them up; when lo! as he came near, the gold took fire, and blazed. He therefore went his way, and the second coming forward made the attempt, but the same thing happened again, The gold rejected both the eldest and the second brother. Last of all the ‘youngest brother approached, and immediately the flames were extinguished: so he picked up the gold, and carried it to his home, Then the two elder agreed together, and made the whole kingdom over {othe soungest born” Besides the regal metal - the gold ~ here we have the objets that symbolize the royal power in war and peace. The golden cup being a vessel for Libation symbolizes the priestly authority of the ruler The written sources and the archaeological evidence provide us with concrete information for the role of the phiale in religious practice. We already mentioned the big find of phialae in Perachora sanctuary dedicated to Hera, Most of the vessels have been found in the sacred pond of the sanctuary, which proves their use in ritual ablutions, preceding the main sacrifice. The lation and the ritual burning of herbs (femigatio) were introductory rituals to penetrate in the sacred Homer gives us a clear description of the libation (performed by Achilles) in chapter XVI, wv 225-254: “Then Achilles went inside his tent and opened the lid of the strong chest which silversfooted Thetis shad given him to take on board ship, and which she shad filled with shits, cloaks to keep out the cold, and good thick rugs. In this chest he had a cup of rare workmanship, from which no man but himself might drink, nor would he make offering from it to any other god save only to father Jove, He took the eup from the chest and cleansed it with sulphur; this done he rinsed it clean water, and after he had washed his hands he drew wine, Then he stood in the middle of the court and prayed, looking towards heaven, and making his drinkoffering of wine; nor was he unseen of Jove whose joy is in thunder. “King Jove,” he cried, “lord of Dodona, god of the Pelasgi iad the protagonist is Priam, the old king of Troy, In another passage from the preparing to visit Achilles and ransom the body of his son (il, XXIV. 303-308): Gold and Silver Vessels from Ancient Thrace Part Phialae | at “Then Hecuba came to them all sorrowfil, with a golden goblet of wine in her right hand, that they might make a drinkofering before they set out. Ske stood in front of the horses and said, “Take this, make a drinkoffering to father Jove, and since you ‘are minded to go to the ships in spite of me, pray that you may come safely back from the hands of your enemies..And Priam answered, "Wife, I will do cas you desire me; it is well to li hands in prayer to Jove, if so be he may have mercy upon me. With this the old man bade the serving-woman pour pure water over his hands, and the woman came, bearing the water in a bowl He washed his hands and took the eup from his wife; then ke made the drink-offering and prayed, standing in the middle of the courtyard and turning his eyes to heaven. “Father Jove,” he said, ‘slorious and most great, grant that I may be received that rulest from Ida, most kindly and compassionately in the tents of Actes.” On the east frieze of the Parthenon several women hold phialae in their hands (Fig.34). They participate in the procession in honour of Athena Parthenos and will use the phialae precisely in the introductory purifying ritual In Assyrian and Mesopotamian reliefs libation as part of rituals was also represented. In the Odyssey as well there are passages that describe the usual sacred pouring of wine from a golden vessel (Od. Ill, 41-68). Little further (Od. V, 274) we read that golden vessels could be consecrated as votive offerings in. sanctuaries, Archaeology proves it with each new related find Several phialze with dedicatory inscriptions are displayed in the National Museum of Athens. The bronze phiale no. 14924 bears the inscription AAMAPETA ANIOEKE (Damarcte dedicated), The phiale comes from the sanctuary of Demeter and Kore in Agios Sostis, Arcadia (Greece). Thankful Damarete offered the phiale somewhere in the 6 century BC to the fertility goddesses in response for an accomplished supplication The bronze phiale mesomphalos no. 11585 also has @ nicely executed inscription along the rim ~ a dedication to Apollo Kerikeios from the local magistrate Phloaras on behalf of several ‘Theban officials from the end of 7 ~ beginning of 6 century BC, And one example more ~ this time from the sanctuary in Dodona: the bronze phiale no. 446 whose inscription says that it was dedicated, 2s a gift to Zeus Nanos on behalf of Diopeliltes. Finally, there is a long dedication on phil discovered in Olympia in 1917, which states that the consecrators are the sons of Kypsclos from Corinth and the metal comes from the booty from the batile at Herakleia; the dating of the vessel is thus directed to the period between 625, and 530 BC ‘There are no Thracian vessels with dedicatory inscriptions. The inscriptions on the Thracian vessels of gold and silver discovered so far refer usually to the owners: there are also signs giving the weight, ie. the value of the vessel. Among the names of the possessors we encounter most often that of Kotys I (381/3-359 BC), the powerful Ory complicated diplomatic relations among the Balkan ‘an king who was actively engaged in the states. The high number of vessels in which his name is accompanied by the names of different cities suggests that in Thrace, like in Persia, at least one part of the tribute / taxes were collected in the form of git Many of the precious vessels were received however by the Thracian nobles as simple gifts. An illustrative story about the endowment of the ‘Thracian prince Seuthes Il is told by Xenophon in Anabasis (VIL 3. 15..28): the suggestion for the sift giving was made by a member of Seuthes’ entourage: the generals and officers were invited by Seuthes to dinner... A certain Heracleides, of Maronea..came up to each guest, addressing himself particularly to those who, as he conjectured, ought to be able to make a present to Seuthes.... Next he came to Timasion the Dardanian, who, some one hnad told him, was the happy possessor of certain goblets and oriental carpets... When the drinking had advanced somewhat Timasion, the Dardanian, Dledged Sewthes, and presented a siteer bowl and a carpet worth ten minae’ ‘The Bulgarian scholar I. Venedikov reminds us We have here the description of the that these Greek regiments took part in the ill presenting gifts to Seuthes Il from Timasion, a fated battle of Kunaxa (deep in Persia) in 401 BC military officer, who, together with Xenophon in which Cyrus was defeated. Most probably, the returned back the mercenary Greek army from the silver cup was acquired by Timasion during this unsuccessful campaign of Cyrus the Younger campaign and bore accordingly the stylistic against his brother Artaxerxes, the Persian king. features of the Persian vessels 1) According to tradition, the mythical founder (obistes) of the city of Maronea on the SW slopes of Ismaros was Maro, A priest of Apollo, Homer describes Maro's hospitality and the gifts that he offered to Ulysses when he visited the land of the Kikones. 2) The bow! from Belene: gold, height 65 em (Lor des cavaliers 1987) or 7.3 em (Die Thraker), diameter 11. em, thickness 0.1 em, weight 77.27 g. 23.65 carats: Regional museum of history, Pleven, ime. no. 3898, suggested dating 125~ 10* century BC: Livr des cavaliers 1987, p30, no. 162: Die Turuker 2004, p.101, no. 149 3) The bow! from Kazichene: gold, height 14.5 em, diameter 24 cm, weight 1050 sg, National Museum of History in Sofia, inv. No, 3014; the suggested dating by Stangeva is the end of the 2°! mil, BC: Stanéeva 1974; ur des cavaliers 1987, .130, no. 161; Die Thraker 2004, p.101, no, 148e: for the symbolic meaning of the deposition of the three vessels: Fol 1975, pp.13 t 4) Early Iron age in Thrace comprises two phases: 11-8" century BC and 86" century BC. 5) Archaeological museum, Sofa, inv. nos. Ne 3192-2204: Mikov 1958 Bonev 1984; Venedikov 1988; Die Tivaker 2004, P9091, no. 147, 6) Strong 1966, p65, PL 128. 7) Marazov 1996, fg.10 on p14 8) Phiale from the village of Sofronievo, district of Vratsa in Northwest Bulgaria: bronze, height 4 em, diam. 17 em, Regional museum of history in Vratsa, inv. No. A 747: Nikolov 1965, p.110, fig a-a (nam e. 176, Ne 24, ur. 58 enopen Lor des cavaliers); Lior des cavatiers 1987, no. 194, p.143; Die Thraker 2004, no. 205, p.l48, The Vratsa district was inhabited in antiquity by the Thracian tribe of the Tribal 9) Ex. the bronze phisle no, 16198 at the National Museum in Athens, without omphalos but with relief concentric circles at the bottom, late 7" century BC, from Perachora, About the sanctuary and the finds: Payne 1940, At the east end of the Corinthian Gulf, north of the Isthmus and opposite ancient Corinth, two sanctuaries dedicated to Hera have bbeen built on the Perachora promontory, The sanctuary of Hera Akraia existed since the Geometric period. In the later Geometric period (second half of the &* century BC), a second precinct, the so-called Hera Limenia was built e. 200 m east the first one, probably for housing the ever accumulating votive offerings. In a pond in the Hera Limenia precinct some two hundred bronze phislae have been found, while the temenos of the temple itself “produced no more than three oF four bronze phialae” (Payne 1940. p.121) 10) Bronzeworking Centres 1988, passim: also Payne 1940, pp.148 £, 151. 11) Howes Smith 1986, Moorey 1974, p.148: ef Luschey 1939, p33, fig.8 and Klio 30, 1937, Ta. 1 12) Moorey 1974, p.14. 13) Strong 1966, pp.36 f: his example is the phiale from Yalysos on the island of Rhodes, dating from the middle of the 7 century BC (fg.12, and lit, 14) Among numerous examples I would cite the bases of some columns from the east portico of the Apadana in Persepolis: Schmid, Persepolis I, 1953, p95. fg39. 15) Phiale from Daskal Atanasovo, region of Stara Zagora: gold. height 3 em, diam. 14 em, weight 8095 g, Regional museum of history, Stara Zagora, no. 1! C3-1132; dated in the 5® century BC by Nikolov 1961, pp.367-368, fig.l; Lior des eavaliers 1987, p.1S7. no. 223 16) Cf, Die Thraker 2004, p.147, no, 201 17) Bronze phiale from Adam collection: 21.5 em, 6 em deep: Moorey 1974, p.150, fig 132A, 18) Moorey 1974, p.150, fg-192A: Payne p.154, PL. 52,1, 2 19) Fllow 1927, p.75-76, Abb. 93, : height 32 om, diam, 19. 61 20) As D. Strong reminds us, the battle of Platzea brought a huge booty, part of whieh were luxurious vessels, 21) Krause in: La tombe de Vix 2003, pp.217-23. 22) Phiale trom Mushovitsa mound near the village of Duvanli, district of Plovdiv: silver, height 4.6 em, diameter 11.7 em, Archaeotogical museum, Plovdiv, inv. 1589: Flloy 1984, p89, no. 8; Strong 1966, p.77; Luschey 1999, Al, figs; Lor des Gold snd Siver Vessels from Ancient Thrace Part | Phialae wo au

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