Мастерская коропласта в контексте городской жизни и ремесленного производства Горгиппии

Abstract

In 2020, during archaeological exploration on the territory of ancient Gorgippia, the Archaeological team of “Diluch” Kubanarcheologiya” uncovered a small dilapidated furnace containing terracotta figurines fired in it: two identical hollow protoma-busts and a one-sided protoma-mask representing images of Kora-Persephone and the goddess Demeter. It is interesting that the products from this workshop were known to researchers before. A half-figure of Kora- Persephone, among other offerings, was discovered in the necropolis of Gorgippia (1954). In the same area of the ancient city, not far from the now found furnace and the necropolis, during construction work (1965), an accumulation of black-gloss vessels and terracotta was recorded, interpreted by researchers as a ‘temple dump’ associated with the sanctuary of the Eleusinian goddesses. Several figurines from this group are similar to the one-sided protoma extracted from the furnace in 2020. In ancient coroplastics, a number of problems often arise concerning the identification of the image, dating, determining the place of production, manufacturing technology and use of figurines. Thanks to the new open complex associated with the koroplast workshop, many issues, including the problem of the circulation of individual elements and the transformation of the image of the female deity, can be clarified.