Nysa 10 - Roman Theater, Frieze E2 – Kore’s Return to Nysa and the Wonderful Cornfield - Nymph Nursing the Infant Dionysos
The heads of the three figures carved on the central panel are heavily damaged. The woman carved in central position is almost completely erased. The face of rightmost male character is chipped. The elongated attribute in the left of the middle figure is lost. Its conical shape, which tapers slightly downwards, suggests a large torch. The leftmost woman standing on her left foot wears a chiton with a wide belt, and a cloak over her head. She holds a torch leant on her right arm; her left arm is streached towards the woman in chiton and large mantle carved next to her; her left hand is leant on the shoulder of this female figure. These female figures represent respectively Demeter and Kore. The daughter of Demeter emerges from a cornfield represented in low relief by a bank of soil and two rows of stalks sprouted from the ground. The male figure closing the trio is Hermes with petasos, mantle descending from his shoulder and wrapping his hips, and kerykeion.
Corybants dance around the god child of Nysa
The right plate of E is broken into several parts and large parts of the carved surface are lost. In the center of the composition, on a padded stool, a female figure, wrapped in a cloak, sits facing a child sitting on her lap. Little traces of the child are preserved. The upper body and the head of the woman are missing. This female figure represents a "kourotrophos", ie, a deity able to protect and nurture children. In our case it is a nymph portrayed in the act of breastfeed and protect the child Dionysus.
Behind her there is a representation of the Corybants dance around the infant Dionysos and the nurse nymph. Three warriors dressing a short tunic, “exomis”, armed with spears and shields, are engaged in a ritual dance. The first warrior, on the left, holds the drawn sword in the lowered right hand, and the scabbard hangs on his side. His lost left arm was raised; his feet seem crossed. The second warrior have the sword hanging over his chest. Both his arms are missing, but the right one was surely high. The third warrior, who is placed on the left of the seated nymph, have arm and leg position similar to those of the first warrior.
At the foot of the last warrior is a male bearded figure, wrapped in a large cloak. It is a river-god, as indicated by the stream of water flowing from a vassel.
Source: Ruth Lindner, “Mythis und Identität”
Theater stage frieze
2nd quarter 1st cent AD. - 200 AD.
Nysa, Caria, Turchey
Nysa 10 - Roman Theater, Frieze E2 – Kore’s Return to Nysa and the Wonderful Cornfield - Nymph Nursing the Infant Dionysos
The heads of the three figures carved on the central panel are heavily damaged. The woman carved in central position is almost completely erased. The face of rightmost male character is chipped. The elongated attribute in the left of the middle figure is lost. Its conical shape, which tapers slightly downwards, suggests a large torch. The leftmost woman standing on her left foot wears a chiton with a wide belt, and a cloak over her head. She holds a torch leant on her right arm; her left arm is streached towards the woman in chiton and large mantle carved next to her; her left hand is leant on the shoulder of this female figure. These female figures represent respectively Demeter and Kore. The daughter of Demeter emerges from a cornfield represented in low relief by a bank of soil and two rows of stalks sprouted from the ground. The male figure closing the trio is Hermes with petasos, mantle descending from his shoulder and wrapping his hips, and kerykeion.
Corybants dance around the god child of Nysa
The right plate of E is broken into several parts and large parts of the carved surface are lost. In the center of the composition, on a padded stool, a female figure, wrapped in a cloak, sits facing a child sitting on her lap. Little traces of the child are preserved. The upper body and the head of the woman are missing. This female figure represents a "kourotrophos", ie, a deity able to protect and nurture children. In our case it is a nymph portrayed in the act of breastfeed and protect the child Dionysus.
Behind her there is a representation of the Corybants dance around the infant Dionysos and the nurse nymph. Three warriors dressing a short tunic, “exomis”, armed with spears and shields, are engaged in a ritual dance. The first warrior, on the left, holds the drawn sword in the lowered right hand, and the scabbard hangs on his side. His lost left arm was raised; his feet seem crossed. The second warrior have the sword hanging over his chest. Both his arms are missing, but the right one was surely high. The third warrior, who is placed on the left of the seated nymph, have arm and leg position similar to those of the first warrior.
At the foot of the last warrior is a male bearded figure, wrapped in a large cloak. It is a river-god, as indicated by the stream of water flowing from a vassel.
Source: Ruth Lindner, “Mythis und Identität”
Theater stage frieze
2nd quarter 1st cent AD. - 200 AD.
Nysa, Caria, Turchey