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Wall Paintings from Gordion in their Anatolian Context

Berndt, Susanne LU (2023) In Mediterranean Studies in Antiquity p.217-233
Abstract
Excavations conducted by the University of Pennsylvania at Phrygian Gordion have so far only revealed wall paintings from one small building. This structure was prominently located between two large Middle Phrygian megara at the outer court of the citadel and dates to the beginning of the Achaemenid period (ca. 500–490 BCE). The building was unique regarding both its decoration and architectural features. It was a semi-subterranean structure that consisted of one main chamber measuring about 3.50 × 4.75 m with a narrow antechamber in front. The mudbrick walls, once decorated with painted plaster, had collapsed during the Persian period, probably because the walls had been robbed of their supporting timber beams. Thousands of painted... (More)
Excavations conducted by the University of Pennsylvania at Phrygian Gordion have so far only revealed wall paintings from one small building. This structure was prominently located between two large Middle Phrygian megara at the outer court of the citadel and dates to the beginning of the Achaemenid period (ca. 500–490 BCE). The building was unique regarding both its decoration and architectural features. It was a semi-subterranean structure that consisted of one main chamber measuring about 3.50 × 4.75 m with a narrow antechamber in front. The mudbrick walls, once decorated with painted plaster, had collapsed during the Persian period, probably because the walls had been robbed of their supporting timber beams. Thousands of painted plaster fragments were recovered during the excavations of the late 1950s. This paper discusses the artistic style, techniques, and iconography of these paintings from an Anatolian perspective, and takes into account contemporary Etruscan wall paintings. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Phrygian wall painting, Lydian tomb painting, Painted House, blue beard, Matar, snakes, procession, Achaemenid Anatolia
host publication
Etruria and Anatolia : Material Connections and Artistic Exchange - Material Connections and Artistic Exchange
series title
Mediterranean Studies in Antiquity
editor
Baughan, Elizabeth P. and Pieraccini, Lisa C.
pages
17 pages
publisher
Cambridge University Press
ISBN
9781009151016
9781009151023
DOI
10.1017/9781009151016.019
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
05bdbb12-e20b-4e90-86f2-285d485bce9e
date added to LUP
2023-01-15 14:17:30
date last changed
2024-09-18 15:50:05
@inproceedings{05bdbb12-e20b-4e90-86f2-285d485bce9e,
  abstract     = {{Excavations conducted by the University of Pennsylvania at Phrygian Gordion have so far only revealed wall paintings from one small building. This structure was prominently located between two large Middle Phrygian megara at the outer court of the citadel and dates to the beginning of the Achaemenid period (ca. 500–490 BCE). The building was unique regarding both its decoration and architectural features. It was a semi-subterranean structure that consisted of one main chamber measuring about 3.50 × 4.75 m with a narrow antechamber in front. The mudbrick walls, once decorated with painted plaster, had collapsed during the Persian period, probably because the walls had been robbed of their supporting timber beams. Thousands of painted plaster fragments were recovered during the excavations of the late 1950s. This paper discusses the artistic style, techniques, and iconography of these paintings from an Anatolian perspective, and takes into account contemporary Etruscan wall paintings.}},
  author       = {{Berndt, Susanne}},
  booktitle    = {{Etruria and Anatolia : Material Connections and Artistic Exchange}},
  editor       = {{Baughan, Elizabeth P. and Pieraccini, Lisa C.}},
  isbn         = {{9781009151016}},
  keywords     = {{Phrygian wall painting; Lydian tomb painting; Painted House; blue beard; Matar; snakes; procession; Achaemenid Anatolia}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{217--233}},
  publisher    = {{Cambridge University Press}},
  series       = {{Mediterranean Studies in Antiquity}},
  title        = {{Wall Paintings from Gordion in their Anatolian Context}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/9781009151016.019}},
  doi          = {{10.1017/9781009151016.019}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}