Papers by Claudia Lambrugo
Anthropological and Archaeological Sciences, 2023
OPEN ACCESS at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-023-01822-4.
Most previous studies on Attic black... more OPEN ACCESS at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-023-01822-4.
Most previous studies on Attic black gloss technology focused on productions from Greece, especially Athens. However, the black gloss technique constitutes the most widespread decoration practice across the Mediterranean from the Archaic to the Hellenistic periods. Focusing on both Attic and Atticising black gloss productions from sites in Sicily and Asia Minor, our work aims to shed new light on the technology of this decoration and its transmission throughout the Mediterranean during the fourth century BCE. Additionally, to investigate the technological relationship between black and the less common intentional red gloss decorations, a selection of bichrome black-and-red and red gloss vessels were included in this study. For this purpose, we applied an integrated analytical approach, aiming to characterise both the chemistry and the mineralogy of archaeological black and red gloss decorations. This approach includes ceramic petrography, pXRF, µ-XRD 2 , and SEM-EDS. Specimens from the fourth century BCE from Manfria (chora of Gela), Iasos (Caria), and Priene (Ionia) were analysed. These assemblages reflect various production groups identified by the chemical and petrographic analyses of the ceramic bodies. The µ-XRD 2 and SEM-EDS measurements of the gloss show a certain degree of mineralogical and chemical variability that does not necessarily correlate with the recognised production groups but, rather, reflects different technological practices. Despite this variability, the results suggest that the various gloss productions were produced with a very similar technological process and offer new insights into the mechanisms through which the black gloss technique diffused throughout the Mediterranean.
Alberto J. Lorrio Alvarado / Raimon Graells i Fabregat / Mariano Torres Ortiz (eds.), LA FONTETA 3. LAS IMPORTACIONES GRIEGAS E ITÁLICAS Y SU CONTEXTO MEDITERRÁNEO, 2023
La cerámica corintia: producción y cronología (A.P.) Con la denominación de cerámica corintia se ... more La cerámica corintia: producción y cronología (A.P.) Con la denominación de cerámica corintia se identifica a una clase cerámica producida en Corinto, fácilmente reconocible por sus peculiares características físicas, productivas y decorativas 1. El color tendente al amarillo verdoso es la verdadera y genuina marca de fábrica, que el cuerpo cerámico asume tras la cocción y gracias a las diferentes variedades de arcillas locales, muy depuradas y pobres en hierro tan abundantes en el entorno de la ciudad 2. Gracias a las numerosas excavaciones realizadas en los inicios del siglo pasado, se han podido documentar los hornos de producción, reconocibles por los consistentes niveles de depósito hallados en el interior del recinto amurallado de la ciudad en el extremo occidental de la misma 3. El fácil acceso a la materia prima y su óptima calidad quizá sean justamente los motivos del nacimiento precoz de una floreciente y refinada tradición artesanal que será protagonista absoluta en el tráfico comercial mediterráneo desde finales del siglo viii a. C. hasta mediados del siglo vi a. C., cuando finalmente cederá el paso a la feroz competencia ática. Convencionalmente, se habla de cerámica protocorintia cuando se hace referencia al periodo comprendido entre la última veintena del siglo viii y el tercer cuarto del siglo vii a. C., cuando tras una breve fase, denominada como periodo de Transición, se inicia la producción corintia propiamente dicha, que perdurará, como hemos indicado con anterioridad, hasta mediados del siglo vi a. C. (tab. 1) 4. Desde el punto de vista figurativo, los productos corintios son los primeros en desmarcarse, a partir del último cuarto del siglo viii a. C., de la ya agotada tradición tardogeométrica, acogiendo de forma precoz las novedades y los estímulos provenientes del mundo próximo-oriental y que llevarán finalmente a la explosión del fenómeno «orientalizante» 5. Por lo tanto, su éxito inicial se puede explicar gracias a la gran facilidad para adoptar nuevos elementos y detalles estilísticos del repertorio cultural alógeno, entre los que destacan los motivos animalísticos, bien sean reales o fantásticos, y que a menudo se disponen en frisos simples o superpuestos 6. Corinto, gracias a la posición geográfica estratégica, controlando el istmo homónimo, se convierte en el paso obligatorio de los flujos comerciales en tránsito desde el Mediterráneo oriental al occidental. Además,
The pointed pyxis is one of the most elegant and colorful Athenian Geometric vases. This shape is... more The pointed pyxis is one of the most elegant and colorful Athenian Geometric vases. This shape is fairly rare, as it is well attested only between EG I and MG II. Interestingly, it has been found almost exclusively in ex-ceptionally wealthy burials containing a large amount of pottery, exotic and prestige goods, metal tools, and jew-ellery. These funerary assemblages clearly demonstrate the deceased’s claim to élite status.
It is then likely that the pointed pyxis may have played a particular role in Athenian funerary rites. Nev-ertheless, the origin and meaning of the shape are still difficult to define. Being sometimes labelled as an egg-shaped vase, the bulbous object might resemble the shape of Geometric spinning tops, as suggested by a few scholars (Dontas, Kent Hill) whose words, however, went unheeded. This paper highlights the suggestive connec-tion among pointed pyxides, spinning tops, girls/young women, Eros, and the love sphere. My main goal is to as-sess whether it is possible to recognize in the pointed pyxis a simulacrum of the spinning top, i.e. a metaphorical reference to the complex and multifaceted semantic status of the toy, which alludes to the unpredictable duration of life, and perhaps even to divinatory practices (e.g. drawing lots for a good wedding during prenuptial ceremonies).
The research led by the ERC AdG project Locus Ludi. The Cultural Fabric of Play and Games in Clas... more The research led by the ERC AdG project Locus Ludi. The Cultural Fabric of Play and Games in Classical Antiquity has focused on the cultural dimension of toys in ancient Greece, Etruria, and Rome. This multidisciplinary book brings together twenty articles that encompass the perspectives of philologists, archaeologists, historians, semioticians and anthropologists in order to provide a new way of considering toys as cultural artefacts in Classical antiquity. A first series of contributions, mainly textual, proposes a detailed analysis of discursive contexts associating toys with various terms and cultural experiences that relate to the sphere of pleasure and emotion, but without defining materiality. The second series of articles examines the archaeological traces of playthings, often very modest. They invite us to deconstruct a modern vision of toys and play too narrowly reduced to objects manufactured by adults for children. Finally, historians, semiologists and anthropologists propose a different way of thinking about the categories of the past, inscribed in a long period of time made up of continuities and discontinuities.
Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 License 193 CLAUDIA LAMBRUGO Giochi sonori e trottole ronzanti da C... more Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 License 193 CLAUDIA LAMBRUGO Giochi sonori e trottole ronzanti da Corinto. Su due oggetti ludici inediti di Ginevra Abstract-La presente nota pubblica due manufatti fittili inediti, conservati presso la sezione archeologica del Musée d'Art et d'Histoire della città di Ginevra. Si tratta nel primo caso certamente di un sonaglio in terracotta a forma di palla; nel secondo di un oggetto troncoconico con foro passante, il cui accurato decoro consente un inquadramento nella produzione artigianale di Corinto tra Protocorinzio Tardo e Corinzio Antico e che l'Autore propone di interpretare come trottola. I due oggetti ludici sono accomunati da suggestivi effetti visivi e sonori. Parole chiaveludus, giocattolo, trottola, sonaglio, ceramica corinzia, Corinto Title-Acoustic toys and buzzing tops from Corinth. On two unpublished ludic objects at Geneva Abstract-The paper deals with two unpublished ludic objects, made of clay, on display at the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire of Geneva (CH). Clearly, the first item is a ball-shaped rattle. More challenging is the interpretation of the second one, whose elegant decoration let it be compared to Corinthian pottery between Late Protocorinthian Period and Early Corinthian. The Author proposes it should be interpreted as a spinning top. Both ludic artefacts have evocative visual and acoustic effects.
The paper focuses on the occurrence of Castelluccian (Early Bronze Age) pebble pendants in sub-ad... more The paper focuses on the occurrence of Castelluccian (Early Bronze Age) pebble pendants in sub-adult tombs found in Greek, but also indigenous sites in Sicily from 8th century BC onwards. These pebbleshaped
pendants are made of various materials, especially alabaster and translucent stones. They are usually unearthed with shells, perhaps to form a single ornament, in close bond with selected people.
The occurrence in archaic infant burials, both in Greek and indigenous contexts, without being documented meanwhile, brings up a challenging issue: we can argue that these items, discovered accidentally
in very ancient tombs, were considered to be old and therefore deemed particularly valuable also due to the intrinsic properties of the stones, being shiny and translucent. As a consequence (by drawing
inspiration from native women’s ancient knowledge?) they were probably conveyed a new meaning and turned into apotropaic amulets in order to protect children from diseases during life, and from perils in afterlife.
Archeologia del rito Nuclei sepolcrali e rituale funerario nelle prime fasi dell'Età del Bronzo n... more Archeologia del rito Nuclei sepolcrali e rituale funerario nelle prime fasi dell'Età del Bronzo nella città di Salerno
L'indagine archeologica che l'Università degli Studi di Milano conduce dal 2009 nell'insediamento... more L'indagine archeologica che l'Università degli Studi di Milano conduce dal 2009 nell'insediamento rurale peuceta di Jazzo Fornasiello (Gravina in Puglia, Bari) offre alcuni interessanti spunti di riflessione per la ricostruzione del ruolo della donna peuceta, quale depositaria di speciali competenze e dispensatrice privilegiata del rito. L'articolo trae spunto dall'analisi e dall'interpretazione di un recinto funerario (ambiente G) eretto a Jazzo Fornasiello nell'ambito del c.d. "Complesso Alfa" nella seconda metà del IV sec. a.C. al di sopra di una tomba tardo-arcaica, la cui memoria si era mantenuta nel tempo. La sepoltura, risultata pertinente a una donna anziana, ha restituito un corredo che lascia intuire nella defunta particolari virtù carismatiche; è infatti alla luce di queste che è possibile spiegare, anche nella cornice di più ampi confronti antropologici, il progressivo agglutinarsi intorno a questa speciale antenata di enchytrismoi infantili, sia che il particolare legame topografico e cultuale veicoli il desiderio che dei piccoli si prendano cura proprio gli antenati, sia che tale associazione rappresenti per i viventi un collegamento forte con il passato a promozione del gruppo familiare nella sua continuità futura.
Sacra publica et privata 1-Bellelli V., Mazzi M., Extispicio. Una "scienza" divinatoria tra Mesop... more Sacra publica et privata 1-Bellelli V., Mazzi M., Extispicio. Una "scienza" divinatoria tra Mesopotamia ed Etruria Sacra publica et privata 2-Pedrucci G., L'isola delle 'madri'. Una rilettura della documentazione archeologica di donne con bambini in Sicilia Sacra publica et privata 3-Pedrucci G., L'allattamento nella Grecia di epoca arcaica e classica Sacra publica et privata 4-Sofia A., Sfingi e Sirene. La presenza egizia nella Sicilia greca del V sec. a.C.: testimonianze nella commedia dorica e nel mimo Sacra publica et privata 5-Sfameni C., Residenze e culti in età tardoantica Sacra publica et privata 6-Guarneri F., Sull'ampio dorso del mare. Quando i Fenici viaggiavano con gli dèi Sacra publica et privata 7-Pedrucci G., Maternità e allattamenti nel mondo greco e romano. Un percorso fra scienza delle religioni e studi sulla maternità
This paper focuses on the results of a recent new examination of the Archaic cemeteries of Gela (... more This paper focuses on the results of a recent new examination of the Archaic cemeteries of Gela (founded in Sicily in 689 BC), containing mainly 7th and 6th century burials. Although it mainly deals with an excavation carefully scheduled and directed at the very beginning of the 20th century by Paolo Orsi himself, whose strictness in unearthing and registering the finds is well known, two main difficulties had to be faced and, if possible, solved. The first is strongly connected to the current laws at the end of the nineteenth century for antiquities and archaeological diggings. The second has to do with the different way of approaching data from necropoleis.
The research has revealed how the funerary scenario of Archaic Gela is characterized by a relative lack of expensive burial rites and rich grave goods, a well-known tendency observed in almost all Sicilian cemeteries, which in Gela resembles a singular mesotes, rigorously curbing the ostentation of wealth. In addition, it is to be highlighted an overall lack of interest in distinguishing males from females and displaying ethnic distinctions, even within a mixed and hybrid society. The priority was rather to show the development of a new social structure and the progressive formation of the main family groups. In this respect, a very special attention is paid to a jeunesse dorée, formed by the young sons and daughters of aristocratic ghene in Gela: their exceptionally wealthy graves, containing exotic and prestige goods, large amounts of metal work and imported pottery, clearly demonstrate adults’ claims to elite status and their attempt to exorcise the fear of a sudden disruption in the bloodline. In fact, this marked visibility conferred after death to an elite group of children and adolescents, even if also due to emotional factors, can be interpreted as a compensatory reaction after death for the significant social investment in the offspring by the household.
Also interesting is that the chronological range studied (650-550 B.C.) is the same of the rapid Geloan expansion over the surrounding territory, involving the establishment of large estates belonging to aristocratic families and the foundation of the subcolony Akragas. Certain changes in the funeral customs can also be correlated with these events.
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Papers by Claudia Lambrugo
Most previous studies on Attic black gloss technology focused on productions from Greece, especially Athens. However, the black gloss technique constitutes the most widespread decoration practice across the Mediterranean from the Archaic to the Hellenistic periods. Focusing on both Attic and Atticising black gloss productions from sites in Sicily and Asia Minor, our work aims to shed new light on the technology of this decoration and its transmission throughout the Mediterranean during the fourth century BCE. Additionally, to investigate the technological relationship between black and the less common intentional red gloss decorations, a selection of bichrome black-and-red and red gloss vessels were included in this study. For this purpose, we applied an integrated analytical approach, aiming to characterise both the chemistry and the mineralogy of archaeological black and red gloss decorations. This approach includes ceramic petrography, pXRF, µ-XRD 2 , and SEM-EDS. Specimens from the fourth century BCE from Manfria (chora of Gela), Iasos (Caria), and Priene (Ionia) were analysed. These assemblages reflect various production groups identified by the chemical and petrographic analyses of the ceramic bodies. The µ-XRD 2 and SEM-EDS measurements of the gloss show a certain degree of mineralogical and chemical variability that does not necessarily correlate with the recognised production groups but, rather, reflects different technological practices. Despite this variability, the results suggest that the various gloss productions were produced with a very similar technological process and offer new insights into the mechanisms through which the black gloss technique diffused throughout the Mediterranean.
It is then likely that the pointed pyxis may have played a particular role in Athenian funerary rites. Nev-ertheless, the origin and meaning of the shape are still difficult to define. Being sometimes labelled as an egg-shaped vase, the bulbous object might resemble the shape of Geometric spinning tops, as suggested by a few scholars (Dontas, Kent Hill) whose words, however, went unheeded. This paper highlights the suggestive connec-tion among pointed pyxides, spinning tops, girls/young women, Eros, and the love sphere. My main goal is to as-sess whether it is possible to recognize in the pointed pyxis a simulacrum of the spinning top, i.e. a metaphorical reference to the complex and multifaceted semantic status of the toy, which alludes to the unpredictable duration of life, and perhaps even to divinatory practices (e.g. drawing lots for a good wedding during prenuptial ceremonies).
pendants are made of various materials, especially alabaster and translucent stones. They are usually unearthed with shells, perhaps to form a single ornament, in close bond with selected people.
The occurrence in archaic infant burials, both in Greek and indigenous contexts, without being documented meanwhile, brings up a challenging issue: we can argue that these items, discovered accidentally
in very ancient tombs, were considered to be old and therefore deemed particularly valuable also due to the intrinsic properties of the stones, being shiny and translucent. As a consequence (by drawing
inspiration from native women’s ancient knowledge?) they were probably conveyed a new meaning and turned into apotropaic amulets in order to protect children from diseases during life, and from perils in afterlife.
The research has revealed how the funerary scenario of Archaic Gela is characterized by a relative lack of expensive burial rites and rich grave goods, a well-known tendency observed in almost all Sicilian cemeteries, which in Gela resembles a singular mesotes, rigorously curbing the ostentation of wealth. In addition, it is to be highlighted an overall lack of interest in distinguishing males from females and displaying ethnic distinctions, even within a mixed and hybrid society. The priority was rather to show the development of a new social structure and the progressive formation of the main family groups. In this respect, a very special attention is paid to a jeunesse dorée, formed by the young sons and daughters of aristocratic ghene in Gela: their exceptionally wealthy graves, containing exotic and prestige goods, large amounts of metal work and imported pottery, clearly demonstrate adults’ claims to elite status and their attempt to exorcise the fear of a sudden disruption in the bloodline. In fact, this marked visibility conferred after death to an elite group of children and adolescents, even if also due to emotional factors, can be interpreted as a compensatory reaction after death for the significant social investment in the offspring by the household.
Also interesting is that the chronological range studied (650-550 B.C.) is the same of the rapid Geloan expansion over the surrounding territory, involving the establishment of large estates belonging to aristocratic families and the foundation of the subcolony Akragas. Certain changes in the funeral customs can also be correlated with these events.
Most previous studies on Attic black gloss technology focused on productions from Greece, especially Athens. However, the black gloss technique constitutes the most widespread decoration practice across the Mediterranean from the Archaic to the Hellenistic periods. Focusing on both Attic and Atticising black gloss productions from sites in Sicily and Asia Minor, our work aims to shed new light on the technology of this decoration and its transmission throughout the Mediterranean during the fourth century BCE. Additionally, to investigate the technological relationship between black and the less common intentional red gloss decorations, a selection of bichrome black-and-red and red gloss vessels were included in this study. For this purpose, we applied an integrated analytical approach, aiming to characterise both the chemistry and the mineralogy of archaeological black and red gloss decorations. This approach includes ceramic petrography, pXRF, µ-XRD 2 , and SEM-EDS. Specimens from the fourth century BCE from Manfria (chora of Gela), Iasos (Caria), and Priene (Ionia) were analysed. These assemblages reflect various production groups identified by the chemical and petrographic analyses of the ceramic bodies. The µ-XRD 2 and SEM-EDS measurements of the gloss show a certain degree of mineralogical and chemical variability that does not necessarily correlate with the recognised production groups but, rather, reflects different technological practices. Despite this variability, the results suggest that the various gloss productions were produced with a very similar technological process and offer new insights into the mechanisms through which the black gloss technique diffused throughout the Mediterranean.
It is then likely that the pointed pyxis may have played a particular role in Athenian funerary rites. Nev-ertheless, the origin and meaning of the shape are still difficult to define. Being sometimes labelled as an egg-shaped vase, the bulbous object might resemble the shape of Geometric spinning tops, as suggested by a few scholars (Dontas, Kent Hill) whose words, however, went unheeded. This paper highlights the suggestive connec-tion among pointed pyxides, spinning tops, girls/young women, Eros, and the love sphere. My main goal is to as-sess whether it is possible to recognize in the pointed pyxis a simulacrum of the spinning top, i.e. a metaphorical reference to the complex and multifaceted semantic status of the toy, which alludes to the unpredictable duration of life, and perhaps even to divinatory practices (e.g. drawing lots for a good wedding during prenuptial ceremonies).
pendants are made of various materials, especially alabaster and translucent stones. They are usually unearthed with shells, perhaps to form a single ornament, in close bond with selected people.
The occurrence in archaic infant burials, both in Greek and indigenous contexts, without being documented meanwhile, brings up a challenging issue: we can argue that these items, discovered accidentally
in very ancient tombs, were considered to be old and therefore deemed particularly valuable also due to the intrinsic properties of the stones, being shiny and translucent. As a consequence (by drawing
inspiration from native women’s ancient knowledge?) they were probably conveyed a new meaning and turned into apotropaic amulets in order to protect children from diseases during life, and from perils in afterlife.
The research has revealed how the funerary scenario of Archaic Gela is characterized by a relative lack of expensive burial rites and rich grave goods, a well-known tendency observed in almost all Sicilian cemeteries, which in Gela resembles a singular mesotes, rigorously curbing the ostentation of wealth. In addition, it is to be highlighted an overall lack of interest in distinguishing males from females and displaying ethnic distinctions, even within a mixed and hybrid society. The priority was rather to show the development of a new social structure and the progressive formation of the main family groups. In this respect, a very special attention is paid to a jeunesse dorée, formed by the young sons and daughters of aristocratic ghene in Gela: their exceptionally wealthy graves, containing exotic and prestige goods, large amounts of metal work and imported pottery, clearly demonstrate adults’ claims to elite status and their attempt to exorcise the fear of a sudden disruption in the bloodline. In fact, this marked visibility conferred after death to an elite group of children and adolescents, even if also due to emotional factors, can be interpreted as a compensatory reaction after death for the significant social investment in the offspring by the household.
Also interesting is that the chronological range studied (650-550 B.C.) is the same of the rapid Geloan expansion over the surrounding territory, involving the establishment of large estates belonging to aristocratic families and the foundation of the subcolony Akragas. Certain changes in the funeral customs can also be correlated with these events.
This paper aims to verify whether this assessment is to be held true or instead is due to a basic knowledge of archaeological contexts in Greek Sicily, some crucial of whom have remained unpublished or are known merely in preliminary reports. As the present Author has started scrutinizing storerooms and museums in search of ‘dolls’ in Sicily, the paper wishes to present the first results of the ongoing research.
Sono proprio gli “intrecci” culturali tra Creta, Rodi, Gela e Akragas ad essere oggetto di attento riesame nel volume, anche alla luce dei più recenti risultati della ricerca archeologica e delle nuove prospettive metodologiche. Lo sfondo degli intrecci è invece il Mediterraneo quale spazio di intensa mobilità e connettività, di interazione culturale tra società diverse e formazione di identità multiple nell’ambito di una vicenda secolare complessa, quella dei Greci d’Occidente, per la cui comprensione risulta ormai inappropriata ogni contrapposizione manichea, tra Greci e Indigeni, tra Rodii e Cretesi.
More specifically, the miscellaneous volume proposed here is linked to the LALLACT project - Lexicon of Ancient Ludonims project. Ludic Activities and Cultural Tradition, whose ambitious goal is the creation of a prototype of a digital Lexicon of the game, starting from two 'pilot' voices, respectively the game of the spinning top and blind man's buff. The collected essays constitute the outcome, precious and at times unexpected, of a fruitful multidisciplinary discussion on the topics indicated.
Il gioco infatti è dimensione ineliminabile del vivere sociale di bambini e adulti, nonché campo di sperimentazione ideale per le forme di interazione tra cultura materiale e immateriale; svolge un ruolo cruciale per lo sviluppo di facoltà intellettive e di doti fisiche ed è strumento privilegiato per il contatto e l’osmosi tra culture differenti. Si tratta dunque di una tematica tutt’altro che banale o poco ‘seria’, anzi al centro di vivi interessi culturali e pedagogici.
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Se di bambini vissuti secoli o decenni fa è spesso molto difficile, se non impossibile, ricostruire sentimenti, paure ed emozioni, è vero che dei subadulti ci resta spesso il corpo, lo scheletro, che non è solo un’entità materiale, ma è anche un prodotto culturale, da cui dedurre informazioni dirette (non mediate quindi dal mondo degli adulti) sullo sviluppo biologico, sullo stato di salute e sulle forme di interazione socio-culturale con il mondo esterno.