American Academy in Rome - Fautores Abstract

A SELECTION OF TERRACOTTA UNGUENTARIA FROM THE BRITISH MUSEUM

Ergün Lafli

Although large catalogues of terracotta oil lamps and figurines from the collections of the British Museum have appeared previously, only a few pieces of terracotta unguentaria from these collections are known by scholars. At the Collection of Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities of the British Museum there are at least 83 terracotta unguentaria from Hellenistic, Roman Imperial and Late Antique periods, which were formerly catalogued as "unguentaria", lekythos", "lacramarium", "aryballos" or simply "bottle". I have documented a large number of these pieces, with the intention of publishing them at Anatolian Studies by the kind permission of the British Museum Trustees.

The largest group of this unguentaria collection consists of Roman imperial pieces, numbering 77. Hellenistic and Late Roman pieces are also represented, albeit in reduced quantities. Most of these objects (39) are from Asia Minor, especially through British excavations at western Turkey in the 19th century. The most important group of unguentaria is those from Wood´s excavations in 1850s at Ephesus. This find group represents various forms and could be useful for the general catalogue of Ephesian unguentaria. A further find group consists of seven Roman imperial pieces from a grave, which was excavated by Charles J. Newton at a field, belonged to Mehmet Hoca, at the eastern cemetery of Halikarnassus. Two Roman imperial unguentaria were collected by A. Marette, with a provenience information as "Troie", in which it should had meant Troas. A further Roman imperial unguentarium was collected from Terranova (Gela), excavated by G. Dennis. The provenience of the rest of 25 pieces is lacking.

A Hellenistic example, recovered at the Newton´s excavations at Cnidus is today at the exhibition, and is one of the most attractive piece of the British Museum collections. It is an early Hellenistic example, covered by a smooth black slip, and decorated in West Slope technique. Another Hellenistic example is from Selinus. The last Hellenistic example is a spindle shape unguentarium with a small horizontal rim, tall neck, tapered ovoid body, and a giant height of 34,2 cm.