A Few Preliminary Remarks on the Cypriot Sculptures Known as Temple-Boys

Abstract

Although scholars have pored over them for many years, there are still more questions than answers concerning the temple-boy figurines. Aside from canonical presentations, many figurines are considered as belonging to the temple-boy category, even though they do not possess features compatible with it. Symbolic analysis of the manner of their presentation, as well as animals, fruits and other objects held by the boys, shifts the direction of influence from Phoenicia to Egypt, also raising the age of the presented boys to two to three years old. Finally, they might be interpreted as votive gifts to ensure protection and well-being for Cypriot heirs to the throne.

Keywords

• Temple-boy figurine
• Hellenistic Cyprus Art
• symbols of death and life
• Egyptian influence
• Jagiellonian University Antiquity Collection