Decorazione, illustrazione o metafora? : su un gruppo di terrecotte architettoniche dal sito di S. Biagio ad Agrigento

A rare group of architectural terracottas from the San Biagio site at Agrigento, dating to the late 5th–early 3rd century BCE, suggests a metaphorical interpretation of youth initiation and maturation. The most notable piece—a fragmentary clay sima with a lion head spout—depicts ephebic Erotes hunting a she-bear in a rocky landscape, combining elements of Greek iconographic traditions with unique motifs. This study proposes that the scene’s oddness implies symbolic meanings tied to hunting and eros, as well as the 'untamed' parthenos, rather than literal representation. The research examines how such decorative schemes may have been disseminated through sketches, casts, or molds before being adapted by artisans. Additionally, the terracottas’ thematic coherence hints at broader cultural and religious contexts related to youth maturation.

Portale, E. C. (2014). Decorazione, illustrazione o metafora? : su un gruppo di terrecotte architettoniche dal sito di S. Biagio ad Agrigento [JD]. Sicilia Antiqua : International Journal of Archaeology : XI, 2014, XI. https://doi.org/10.1400/226061