THE VEIL OF DESPOINA AT LYKOSURA

The dressing of the cult statues in ancient Greece is an important part to the study of textiles and its iconography. The cult group of Damophon at Lykosura in Arcadia, Peloponnese belongs to the original hellenistic statues (2nd century BC) and was found on site at the Temple of Despoina. The colossal sculptures, which are very fragmented, are consisted of four over-life size figures: Artemis, Demeter, Despoina and Anytos. Demeter and Despoina are seated on a throne. flanked by standing figures of Artemis and Anytos. Literary evidence of the existence of the group is given by Pausanias, who saw and described the cult statues during his visit to Greece in the 2nd century AD. Inscriptions of the Roman Period, found during the excavations at Lykosura, prove the significance of this cult in ancient Arcadia. All female statues were dressed with garments (chiton, peplos or himation), but the honored figure was dressed with a decorated relief veil, which was draped over the head and reaching down to the knees. A large part of the veil of Despoina is exhibited in the National Archeological Museum, Athens. The marble of the veil shows traces of red colour and is divided in friezes decorated with thunders, Tritons, dolphins, Nereids, Nikai carrying censers and also humans with animal-heads in a dance procession like a ceremony. The veil of Despoina allows diverse iconographic interpretations due to its decoration, which is connected with the cult at Lykosura.
Author(s): Dimopoulou, Sotiria (PhD Student)

Видео THE VEIL OF DESPOINA AT LYKOSURA канала European Association of Archaeologists