Collection Item

From:UC Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

Name/TitleFigurine

About this objectTerracotta figurine of a woman dancing. The dancer has a peaked cap and wears a loose chiton (tunic). It is unclear if she has footwear. To judge by the drapery, she is swinging to her left with her left leg raised, and places her hands over her head, with her palms together.

The front of the figurine was formed in a mould, while the back was made from a simple sheet of clay. There is a large rectangular vent-hole in the reverse of the figurine.

The woman appears to be performing a type of dance known as the oklasma. The name oklasma comes from the verb Όκλάζειν, to crouch, which the dancer did by bending the knees and clasping the hands above, and then leaping up. Although the dance was originally performed in honour of the Phrygian god Sabazios, once it became established in Athens in the late fifth or early fourth century BC, it was soon associated with the cult of the Greek god Dionysos (sometimes spelled Dionysus).

The style of our figure suggests it was made around the middle of the fourth century BC. This figure was bought together with JLMC 65.62 and both were said to have come from Kerch (Crimea).

Date MadeMid 4th century - early 3rd century BCE

PeriodClassical

Place NotesLikely manufactured in Kerch, Crimea

Medium and MaterialsClay: Terracotta

Style and IconographyEast Greek

Inscription and MarksThere is an old number written in ink at the top on the back and with a line through it: 21420[?].

TechniqueMolding (forming)

TechniqueModeling (forming)

MeasurementsHeight 112mm

Subject and Association KeywordsWomen in art

Subject and Association KeywordsClothing and dress

Subject and Association KeywordsFigurative art

Subject and Association KeywordsTheatre in art

Named CollectionThe James Logie Memorial Collection, University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Credit LineDonated by T.B.L. Webster, 1962.

Object TypeFigurine

Object number64.62

Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved