Greek Terracotta Figurines with Articulated Limbs
Terracotta figurines were rather familiar objects to the ancient Greeks.
by Maya B. Muratov (Department of Greek and Roman Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Terracotta statuette of a man holding a quadruped (ca. 750–600 B.C., Cypriot). The figure represents a worshipper bringing an offering. In its original condition, it would have had movable legs, attached through the holes on either side of the lower body, and it would have been suspended by the hole at the top of the headdress.
Fragments and complete pieces found in the course of archaeological excavations form the primary basis for our understanding of how the figurines were used. They stood in houses as mere decorations, or served as cult images in small house shrines; some of them functioned as charms to ward off evil. They were brought to temples and sanctuaries as offerings to the gods and deposited in graves as cherished possessions of the deceased, gifts, or as protective devices.
Among the numerous types of Greek terracotta figurines, one group stands out. These are figurines with jointed or movable limbs; this means that their legs, arms (01.13.1, .2), and sometimes even heads were made separately and attached to the body after firing. Statuettes of this type represent a class common all over the Greek and Roman world during all periods. Such figurines existed in Greece as early as the tenth century B.C., were widely popular in Cyprus from the eighth century B.C. onward (74.51.1613; 74.51.1614; 74.51.1655; 74.51.1691), and continued down through the Roman period. The vast majority of these figurines have suspension holes on top of their heads; the dangling arms and legs were in motion when the figurines were shaken or hung. The movement of the limbs certainly lent vitality to a figurine, while adding a magical aspect.
Terracotta statuette of a man, probably a warrior (ca. 750–600 B.C., Cypriot). The cylindrical body is wheel-made and hollow (including the head), flaring at the bottom. There is a perforation on either side at the lower edge of the body for the attachment of movable legs.
Terracotta figurines with articulated limbs are often described as dolls or children’s toys, and are sometimes thought to have been dressed in clothes. While one cannot simply dismiss these assumptions, it must be pointed out that this hypothesis is based on an inaccurate reading of an ancient epigram, which was originally interpreted to say that a girl named Timareta dedicated to the goddess (at a sanctuary) her dolls and their dresses. However, more recently it has been convincingly argued that she in fact dedicated her hair and her own clothing. Another point to be made against the figurines being play things is that they are too fragile (11.212.43) to be constantly handled by children. The fact that these “dolls” are often discovered in the graves of adults indicates their possible chthonic connection or apotropaic function. In addition, the movement these figurines were capable of when swinging, as well as the clanking noise they produced, might have made them attractive charms.
Shield bearer (ca. 750–600 B.C., Cypriot). The cylindrical body is wheel-made and hollow, with a bell-shaped bottom; the upper body and the head are handmade. There is a perforation on either side just above the bell-shaped section for the attachment of movable legs.
Given so many choices, it is rather difficult to define a single purpose for the articulated figurines. The fact that they could move would seem to be essential to understanding their function and meaning, which have not been satisfactorily explained thus far.
Terracotta statuette of a male flute-player (ca. 750–600 B.C., Cypriot). The flaring lower part of the cylindrical body is wheel-made and hollow; the upper part and the head are handmade and solid.
Fragment of a terracotta plaque, (late 5th century B.C., Greek). Dancing woman. The figure belongs to the type commonly known as a kalathiskos dancer. The identification comes from the headdress and may refer to performances at a festival in honor of Apollo known as the Karneia.
Terracotta jointed "doll" (5th century B.C., Greek, Corinthian). Many examples of such small jointed figurines have been found in tombs, sanctuaries, and terracotta factories. Their attire—a cylindrical polos (headdress) and a short tunic and shoes—seems to indicate that they are ritual dancers. Similarly dressed dancers on reliefs of the fifth century B.C. hold castanets, and some of the jointed figurines hold cymbals or castanets. They are too fragile to serve as real dolls and must have been charms hung up to repel evil with their potential noise and movement.
Bone doll with articulated limbs (late 4th or 3rd century B.C., Greek). Moveable arms and legs.. This doll was found together with the terracottas, acc. nos. 11.212.16-.53, displayed in the same shelf.
Citation
Muratov, Maya B. “Greek Terracotta Figurines with Articulated Limbs.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/gtal/hd_gtal.htm (October 2004)
Further Reading
Karageorghis, V. "Soldiers and Other Toys in the Coroplastic Art of Cyprus." In Acta Cypria, part 2, edited by Paul Aström, pp. 171–83. Jonsered: P. Aströms Förlag, 1992.
Lonsdale, Steven H. Dance and Ritual Play in Greek Religion. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1993.
Thompson, Dorothy Burr. "The Terracottas." In Small Objects from the Pnyx, vol. 1, edited by Gladys R. Davidson and Dorothy Burr Thompson, pp. 112–66. Baltimore: American School of Classical Studies at Athens, 1943.
Source: MET Museum