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The pinakes (Greek for small boards), thin rectangular
terracotta small boards bas-relief decorated with scenes
concerning the myth of Persephon and the rituals of the
worship in the Locrians sanctuary called "of the
Mannella" (from the nowadays name of the district in
which the ruins are placed) are real jewels which the
ancient Locri bequeathed us.
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PERSEPHON OPENS THE MYSTIC BASKET
(Image source: G. Incorpora -
Locri Antica e Gerace,
Ponte Nuovo Editrice, Bologna 1980 - II Edizione
- pag. 47)
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TROUSSEAU OFFERING
(Image source: G. Incorpora -
Locri Antica e Gerace,
Ponte Nuovo Editrice, Bologna 1980 - II Edizione
- pag. 47)
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Their
importance is such as Paolo Orsi himself, a famous Italian
archaeologist, commenting upon them, spoke this way: "The
renowned pinakes, inexhaustible source of researches for the
religion and worship experts, are enough to make the joy of
the artists and the glory of a museum".
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THE ABDUCTION OF PERSEPHON
(Image source: L. Costamagna e C. Sabbione
- Una città in Magna Grecia Locri Epizefiri, Laruffa Editore, Reggio Calabria 1990 fig. 62)
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The
pinakes, finds almost unique which the Greek world handed
down to us, date from an age included between the 490 and
the 450 b.C.; they were brought again to light during the
excavations of the Mannella's sanctuary where they were
recovered in fragments (it was a ritual use to break these
boards nearby a sanctuary) inside big votive deposit.
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MYTHOLOGY |
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Persephon was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter.
Hades felt in love with her and, during an absence of
Demeter, he kidnapped her while she was picking up
some flowers nearby Pergus lake, and took her in the
Avernus.
The mother searched for her everywhere desperately
until, thanks to Helios, she knew the name of the
abductor.
Then, angry, she spoke to Zeus to get back her
daughter but, since Persephon had broken the fasting
which would have allowed her to go back on the Earth,
her request wasn't complied.
Therefore Demeter threatened to stay forever in the
Avernus and Zeus, partly because moved to pity and
partly because worried, judged that Persephon had to
remain for a third of the year in the Avernus and for
two third with her mother.
Since her abduction she became the hell goddess, also
called by the Greek Kore (hence the name of the feasts
dedicated to her and called Koreies).
The Romans called her Proserpine. |
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PERSEPHON AND HADES ON THE THRONE
(Image source: G. Incorpora -
Locri Antica e Gerace,
Ponte Nuovo Editrice, Bologna 1980 - II Edizione
- pag. 47)
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THE ABDUCTION OF PERSEPHON (other representation)
(Image source: Prof. G. Incorpora's private archive)
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Because
of the large number of recovered pinakes and their
conditions often difficult, up to today their classification
isn't complete.
Nowadays the greatest part of the pinakes can be admired at
the National Museum of Reggio Calabria. |
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