Honouring the Dead in the Peloponnese - University of Nottingham

CHAPTER 21
THE SOCIAL DIMENSION OF FUNERARY AND
VOTIVE JEWELLERY IN THE ARCHAIC
PELOPONNESE *
MARIOANNA LOUKA
Within the wide field of research on ancient jewellery, the attraction naturally
exerted by jewels as precious and luxurious objects often monopolizes
attention and thus hinders a scientific approach – a point often reflected in the
choices made in presenting catalogues or displays in exhibitions. As a result,
emphasis is given to the beauty of the object and the skill of the artist, rather
than examining the jewel as a utilitarian object and adornment for the body as
an expression of the socio-economic standing and a reflection of the
personality of the person wearing it. In other words, we often tend to forget
that jewellery constitutes an excellent means for studying the position
attributed to individuals during different periods and within different socioeconomic
contexts.
Through presenting representative finds from the Peloponnese (mainly
the prefectures of Corinthia, the Argolid and Elis) dated to the Archaic period,
that is the 7 th –6 th centuries BC, but also based on earlier traditions, we shall
attempt to interpret jewellery as something much more than a means for
adornment: they are objects closely linked with the female world, as this is
formed not only by the everyday occupations of Peloponnesian woman,
* I would like to thank the Centre of Spartan and Peloponnesian Studies for the organization
of this Conference and for their warm hospitality, and especially Prof. William Cavanagh for
his interest in my research and the opportunity to present parts of it. Moreover, I would like
to thank the supervising professors of my PhD, Prof. Roland Etienne from the University of
Paris I–Panthéon-Sorbonne and Prof. Eva Simantoni-Bournia from the University of Athens,
for their continuous support and inspiring contribution to my efforts.