Piece of Bowl with a Relief of Heracles and Crete Strait on it from Patara

15th Symposium on Mediterranean Archaeology, Catania, Italy, 5 - 09 March 2011, pp.1-7, (Summary Text)

Publication Type: Conference Paper / Summary Text
City: Catania
Country: Italy
Page Numbers: pp.1-7
Akdeniz University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Patara is located at the 30 km west of Kaş which is a district of Antalya. The Capital City of Lykia Uninon in the ancient era with the help of secure harbor located on the east side of a marvelous loch which extends 2km up to the north, became the Capital and the main harbor of all Lykia. The bowl mentioned in this task with the relief of Capture the Cretan Bull on its tondo has been captured at the end of 2010 digging campaign. On the artifact captured at the studies near north walls within the Patara Ancient Water Route Research Project, there is a scene one of the tasks which is known as ‘Twelve Tasks of Hercules’. We frequently come across with ornaments based on Heracles’ myths on architectural decorations or on black and red figured vases or at wall paintings. This Patarian founding’s tondo and relief are encircled with the framings, which portraits Herakles’ grabbing the Bull, which eats all the crops of Crete and brings whole country to the point of famine, from its antlers and taking back to Hellas. Heavy set and tough looking Herakles is portrayed while his right hand holds antlers of the bull and his other hand holds its jaw just like in the myth. Around the relief there are 6 little punctures which are made in a circular plan. These punctures must be indicating an application. At the part right under tondo, there is palmet ornament.

In this task, Relief of Herakles and the Cretan Bull on the artifact captured in Patara will be examined iconographically and also there will be made suggestions about these little symmetrical punctures’ functions.