The iconography of death: continuity and change in prothesis ritual through iconographical techniques, motifs, and gestures depicted in Greek pottery

Abstract

Prothesis scenes have been a controversial and debated theme of iconographical approaches to Greek pottery analyses. Focused on meaning and historical references these studies usually have considered pictorial elements isolated in a particular pottery production and style, Attic Geometric for instance. This paper intends to analyze and discuss some iconographical elements such as technique of production, style, motifs and gestures taking into account a broader perspective and chronology, including vases and terracotta pinakes from the Geometric to the Classical Period. This approach to prothesis ritual scenes allow us to point out continuities and changes in the funerary ritual iconographic representation itself and its social and cultural meanings.

Keywords

• Arqueologia Clássica
• Cerâmica
• Iconografia da morte