Archontiko Necropolis - The lady of Archontiko - V
This gold mask, decorated with four different matrices forming an impressive composition, covered the face of a wealthy deceased lady. The motifs consist of an impressed braid motif in a banded frame along the mask’s upper and lower ends; a four-spoked star (sun) with four planets between each spoke over each of the eyes; a figure-of-eight motif over each cheek; a lozenge-shaped mouthpiece with broad decorative border featuring three horizontal rows of antithetical pointed ‘leaves’ (closed lotus buds) in the internal corners, two heraldic felines in the center, and dolphins above and below.
This gold mask was find inside the sarcophagus a lady laden with jewellery laid surrounded by numerous grave gifts: personal objects and emblematic objects such as vases and vessels used both in burial ceremonies, and the posthumous symposium, as well as gifts for the ultimate farewell. Three diadems adorned the deceased’s head one consisting of rosettes embossed on gold sheet and two gold fillet diadems, one small and one large. An impressive frieze of hunting animals inside a clipped frame decorates the small diadem. We can recognize a hunter on horseback who holds a spear and gallops towards two large animals (bovines) moving to the right, and a large animal (wolf) attacking from behind another animal (deer?) fleeing to the right. The same matrix was used to decorate the large diadem
The deceased also wore a necklace, which consisted of fifty spherical gold beads and a pair of gold and silver pins.
The tomb was excavated near the ancient settlement of Archontiko This place was inhabited from the beginning of the Neolithic period to the Late Byzantine period. Judging from its size and from its extensive cemeteries, Archontiko was probably the most important settlement in northern Bottiaia, a land of pasturalism and shepherds from prehistoric times to the late fifth century BC, when Archelaos chose Pella as the new capital of Macedonia.
Source: Pavlos Chrysostomou – Anastasia Chrysostomou, "The Lady of Archontiko"
From Archontiko Necropolis,, burial N. 458.
540 – 530 BC
Pella, Archaeological Museum
Archontiko Necropolis - The lady of Archontiko - V
This gold mask, decorated with four different matrices forming an impressive composition, covered the face of a wealthy deceased lady. The motifs consist of an impressed braid motif in a banded frame along the mask’s upper and lower ends; a four-spoked star (sun) with four planets between each spoke over each of the eyes; a figure-of-eight motif over each cheek; a lozenge-shaped mouthpiece with broad decorative border featuring three horizontal rows of antithetical pointed ‘leaves’ (closed lotus buds) in the internal corners, two heraldic felines in the center, and dolphins above and below.
This gold mask was find inside the sarcophagus a lady laden with jewellery laid surrounded by numerous grave gifts: personal objects and emblematic objects such as vases and vessels used both in burial ceremonies, and the posthumous symposium, as well as gifts for the ultimate farewell. Three diadems adorned the deceased’s head one consisting of rosettes embossed on gold sheet and two gold fillet diadems, one small and one large. An impressive frieze of hunting animals inside a clipped frame decorates the small diadem. We can recognize a hunter on horseback who holds a spear and gallops towards two large animals (bovines) moving to the right, and a large animal (wolf) attacking from behind another animal (deer?) fleeing to the right. The same matrix was used to decorate the large diadem
The deceased also wore a necklace, which consisted of fifty spherical gold beads and a pair of gold and silver pins.
The tomb was excavated near the ancient settlement of Archontiko This place was inhabited from the beginning of the Neolithic period to the Late Byzantine period. Judging from its size and from its extensive cemeteries, Archontiko was probably the most important settlement in northern Bottiaia, a land of pasturalism and shepherds from prehistoric times to the late fifth century BC, when Archelaos chose Pella as the new capital of Macedonia.
Source: Pavlos Chrysostomou – Anastasia Chrysostomou, "The Lady of Archontiko"
From Archontiko Necropolis,, burial N. 458.
540 – 530 BC
Pella, Archaeological Museum