Crafting Across Time and Space: Artistic Exchange and Archaic Greek Sanctuaries in the Eastern Mediterranean

Archaic Greek sanctuaries, such as the Pythagoreion and Heraion of Samos, were hubs for intercultural artistic exchange during the 7th and 6th centuries BCE. This study challenges the long-standing 'Orientalizing' paradigm by revealing that votive objects—previously dismissed as mere imports—were instead products of complex local production, reuse, and adaptation, reflecting dynamic interactions among craftspeople across the eastern Mediterranean. Through object biographies and material analysis, it demonstrates that these artifacts were not passive indicators of influence but active participants in intercultural dialogue, embodying unique votive meanings and processes of artistic transmission. The research shifts focus from origins to the tangible processes of craftsmanship, showing how raw materials, skilled knowledge, and finished products circulated, reshaping our understanding of artistic exchange in this period.

Schneller, David H. (2021). Crafting Across Time and Space: Artistic Exchange and Archaic Greek Sanctuaries in the Eastern Mediterranean. Columbia University. https://doi.org/10.7916/D8-2VRA-Q778