Geometric Pottery from Volimidia

Abstract

Between 1952 and 1965 Spyridon Marinatos excavated 32 Mycenaean chamber tombs in the cemetery at Volimidia, located 5 km. north of the palace at Ano Englianos. Of these, two tombs (Angelopoulos Group, nos. 4 and 5) yielded a good series of Late Geometric vases from the decade 740–730 B.C. These vases, in conjunction with other LG ceramic material from the Nichoria pithos burial and the Vathirema chamber tomb, represent a broadening of Messenian horizons after a relatively conservative and isolated period in Protogeometric times. The majority of vases from Angelopoulos 4 appear to be Corinthian imports with one possible Laconian import. Argive influence can also be detected in the decorative motifs. The vessels from Angelopoulos 5, on the other hand, are local products with the exception of another probable Laconian import. The local vases tend to imitate Corinthian shapes and decorative motifs. A class of carinated oinochoai, however, does not follow the Corinthian tradition but represents a more local variety based on Ithacan prototypes. In fact, Ithacan influence appears to be quite strong at Volimidia, indicating that the fairly homogeneous West Greek ceramic koiné, which had been a feature of the Protogeometric period, continued into the Late Geometric period. The presence of the Laconian imports suggests the continuation of Laconian-Messenian contacts, which had also occurred in PG times, and anticipates the later Spartan interest in Messenia.