Eastern Greek Architectural Decoration: Fragmentary Plaque with Griffin Head in Relief
Inv. No.: 91.003
Provenance: East Greece (Phrygia)
Date: second half of 6th century BC
Length: 100mm
Depth: 30mm
Acquired with the aid of a generous donation from the University Society of Toowoomba in memory of Dr Leslie Boyce and Mr Ronald Pechey.
An architectural terracotta fragment with the head of a griffin moulded in low relief. There is a straight edge on the right and the rest of the fragment is an irregular shape. The clay is orange in colour and details of the griffin’s head are painted in black. This fragment comes from a rectangular plaque belonging to a frieze depicting a procession of horsemen and griffins that once adorned a late sixth century BC building near Düver in southwestern Turkey. Fragment 90.6 in the Antiquities Collection comes from a similar plaque. The frieze is composed of identical moulded plaques, but the painted details vary. The rider wears Anatolian costume and is mounted on a rearing horse; both face right and follow a griffin who walks to the right.
Function:
From a terracotta frieze, part of the lateral cornice including the roof drainage system, used to protect a wooden beam in a building made from timber and brick. It was also part of a decorative scheme.
Manufacture:
A mould-made plaque.
Decoration:
- The low relief griffin’s head is shown in profile, facing right. One ear is upright and the beak is open, revealing a tongue that is outlined in black.
- The eye of the griffin and its neck are painted in black.
Bibliography:
Greifenhagen, A., "Ein Architecktonisches Terrakottarelief aus Kleinasien", Archäologischer Anzeiger, 81 (1966), 44-47.
Mayo, M. E., "Architectural Terra Cottas from Phrygia", Arts in Virginia, 21, No. 2 (1981), 29-35.
Mellink, M. J., "Archaeology in Asia Minor’, American Journal of Archaeology, 68 (1964), 159 and 69 (1965), 143.
Thomas, N., "Recent Acquisitions by Birmingham City Museum", Archaeological Reports for 1964-65 (1965), 64-70.
Comparanda:
Asgari, N. et al, The Anatolian Civilisations II. Greek/Roman/Byzantine, exhibition catalogue, St Irene, Istanbul, Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 1983, B.131 (an example of a complete plaque).
Green, J. R., Antiquities: A description of the Classics Department Museum in The Australian National University, Canberra, Canberra, The Australian National University, 1981, Inv. No. 76.02, pp. 86-87 (plaque).
Greifenhagen, A., "Ein Architecktonisches Terrakottarelief aus Kleinasien", Archäologischer Anzeiger, 81 (1966), Figs. 1-2 (complete plaque and a reconstruction).
Mayo, M. E., "Architectural Terra Cottas from Phrygia", Arts in Virginia, 21, No. 2 (1981), Figs. 3-17 (more examples and a reconstruction of the frieze).
Thomas, N., "Recent Acquisitions by Birmingham City Museum", Archaeological Reports for 1964-65 (1965), Figs. 4-5 (another example and a reconstruction of the original frieze).