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Terracotta group of two seated women, perhaps Demeter and her daughter Persephone
Terracotta group of two seated women, perhaps Demeter and her daughter Persephone

*Note: I found a thumbprint (two, actually) on this and reported it to the British Museum, now logged into the record!

Terracotta group of two female figures sitting on a couch with elaborately turned legs, thick cushions, and draped with brightly painted textiles. They lean towards one another as if to share a secret, and the older woman on the right, with her himation pulled over her head, places a hand over her bared breast. The younger woman on the left raises her right hand over her breast under her own himation, mirroring her companion; on her left hand, we can see a large ring with a circular bezel. Each woman wears thick-soled sandals, and the older woman's sole is painted dark red.

We see remains of the white slip - the base coat over which pigments would have been applied - as well as the bright remains of blue on the couch's drapery, and vibrant rose madder pigment on the younger woman's himation (cloak) and the cushions of the couch, red on the sole of the older woman's sandal and the younger woman's chiton (tunic), and a pale pink on the flesh of both women.

The interpretation of this scene is varied, but it's most often thought to be a tender moment between Demeter and her daughter Persephone. Perhaps as Persephone emerges from the darkness of Hades, or right before she must return.

Hellenistic, circa 100 BCE
Made in Myrina (Turkey), Asia Minor, where it was said to be found
Terracotta with pigments

British Museum (1885,0316.1)

Attribution Noncommercial Share Alike Some rights reserved
Taken on: January 5, 2020
Tags: Everybody's photos tagged with pleiades:findspot=550756 pleiades:findspot=550756
Sets appears in:   • Ancient polychrome    • Ancient terracottas and ceramics    more » • British Museum    « less
Groups appears in:   • Museum    • British Museum    more » • The Ancient World    • * Ancient ceramic *    • Ancient Greek Sculpture    • Ancient Near East    • World Archaeology & Arts/ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΑ&ΤΕΧΝΕΣ-Rea    • Museums of the World    • World Archaeology    • Ancient Paint - Pittura Antica    • Civilizations of the Ancient Near East    • Your Museum Images    • Ancient / Archaeological    • Photos at the Museum    • Women Statues    • Ancient Polychromy    « less
Camera: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max, f/2.0, 1/100 sec, 6mm, ISO 125 (more info) (hide info)
Camera: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Lens: iPhone 11 Pro Max back dual camera 6mm f/2
Aperture: f/2.0
Exposure Time: 0.01 sec (1/100)
Focal Length: 6mm
ISO: 125
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program: Program AE
Exposure Mode: Auto
Metering Mode: Multi-segment
White Balance: Auto
Color Space: sRGB
Software: Adobe Lightroom 7.1.2 (Macintosh)
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Terracotta group of two seated women, perhaps Demeter and her daughter Persephone

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