Le faire et le dire

Abstract

This article uses images to analyze the paradox of gestures, their perception and study. More precisely, it focuses on a series of attic vases of the archaic and classical period depicting a “soft leg”, namely the sacrificial animal’s thigh without the long bones, only with its hoof and the foot’s bone. The paper highlights the polysemie of a system of gestures according to six variations of this motif, beginning with the ritual sequence of transferring and moving to the “soft leg’s” offering as a share of honor, or even its isolation on the background of the image which highlights its presence.

Keywords

• sacrifice
• thigh
• gesture
• attic vases