La coupe de Nestor. État de la question et essai de mise au point

Abstract

Starting from the abundant bibliography, this paper takes stock of interpretations about the famous Nestor's cup, summarizing the two theories, one «serious» and one «humourous». Founded on Athenaeus' testimony which recalls the existence of a Nestor's cup consacrated in the Artemis temple at Capoua, it is possible nowadays to assert the Nestor of Pithecussai is neither the owner of the vase nor the defunct himself, but the homeric heroe whose cult was established in Campania from the 8th century B.C. Besides, a serious evaluation of the archaeological context enables us not only to share Murray's conclusions as to the first example of symposion lyric poetry, but also do underline the ritual value of placing a wine cup with an erotic allusion in a child's grave.