Ancient Mediterranean

Digital Project

Single-levelled galley

Cat. No.

A61

Date

Late 8th century B.C.

Findspot

Thebes

Dimensions

L (preserved): 13.1 cm; H (preserved): 8.7 cm

Medium

Bronze fibula with decorated catch-plate, broad oval bow. Attributed to the "Swan master." Formerly fragments preserved of most of the plate now missing

Accession Number

Berlin 8145.5

References

De Vries and Katzev 1972: 116, 119, pl. 14.5; Hampe 1936: 17-18, 24, 96-97, no. 55, abb. 2; Morrison and Williams 1968: 78, Arch. 21

Unavailable for study

Bought in Athens (1890) along with other bronzes which are all said to come from a grave in Thebes. (Side A): Horse with bird above. Asterisk-like star and a quatre foil rosette behind the bird. Quatrefoil rosette below the belly of the horse; (Side B): Described by Hampe as ship, bird and fish. Currently surviving section shows a bird above the forward part of a ship with traces of quatrefoil rosette (?) between the bird and the ship. To the left of the bird is an eight-rayed asterisk-like star and to its left is the forestay of the ship.

De Vries, K. and M. L. Katzev. 1972. "Greek, Etruscan and Phoenician Ships and Shipping," in G. F. Bass (ed.) A History of Seafaring. New York: Walker, pp. 37–64.

Hampe, R. 1936. Frühe griechische Sagenbilder in Böotien, Ate¬ne : Deutsches archäologisches institute.

Morrison, J.S. and R.T. Williams. 1968. Greek Oared Ships: 900-322 B.C. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

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