visualizations
visualizations

Bendis and Nymphs 

  • thumb_img
  • thumb_img

This relief is carved on the natural rock in one of the ancient quarries of Paros (where the famous Parian marble was quarried) and is the oldest depiction of Bendis outside Thrace. Approximately in the center of the lower zone, the Thracian goddess is depicted wearing a short chitoniskos, nebris (fawn skin) and alopeke (fox fur cap). She holds a spear and an animal skin in her left hand. She turns to left, towards a woman sitting on a throne. She is probably Demeter. Persephone sits next to her and rearmost Artemis (or Hekate) deposits two torches on the altar. To the left of Bendis are four deities that cannot be identified. They are probably related to the Nymphs on the right (two of the three are not preserved today).

In the center of the upper zone, the enormous head of the god-river Acheloos is depicted. To the left, there is the head of Gaia, a Silenos sitting naked on the ground and two Nymphs accompanied perhaps by Hermes. To the right, Pan sits on the rock playing the flute and next to him are three Kouretes or Korybantes having their heads covered by round shields. Bottom right, eleven worshipers in smaller dimensions are bringing offerings to the Nymphs. Five or six of them are children.

Below the figures, the inscription «Ἀδάμας Ὀδρύσης Νύμφαις» ("Adamas Odrysses Nymphais") can be read. It means that Adamas from the Thracian tribe of Odrysians, who probably worked as a slave in the quarries, offered this relief as a gift to the Nymphs.


Caption Votive relief to Nymphs from an ancient quarry in Paros with Bendis and Nymphs

Mythic people Demeter (Deity), Persephone (Deity),  (), Hermes (Deity), Artemis (Deity), Acheloos (Deified river), Pan (Deity) ,Bendis (Goddess)

Type Relief

Origin Ancient quarry in Paroikia, Paros

Current position in situ

Dating 400-350 BC

LIMC Url

Notes

Berranger, D. 1983. Le relief inscrit en l'honneur des Nymphes dans les carrières de Paros, Revue des Études Anciennes 85, 3-4, 1983, 235-259.

Για αναφορές στο ανάγλυφο βλ.

Deoudi M. 2015. Bendis in Kleinasien. Στο Figurines de terre cuite en Méditerranée grecque et romaine. Vol. 2. Iconographie et contextes. 49-59. 

Deoudi M. 2007. Bendis - Kulturell geprägtes Gesicht einer Thrakischen Göttin. Στα Πρακτικά του 10ου Διεθνούς Συνεδρίου Θρακολογίας, Κομοτηνή-Αλεξανδρούπολη 18-23 Οκτωβρίου 2005. 120-129. 

Deoudi M. 2009. Bendis' neue Heimat in der Fremde. Ancient West & East 8. 223-233. 

Για τους Κουρήτες: Κουρήτες

Για φωτογραφίες του  αναγλύφου, όπως σώζεται σήμερα, βλ. Πάρος: τα αρχαία υπόγεια λατομεία μαρμάρου των Νυμφών (Μαράθι) | ΑΣΤΙΚΗ ΣΠΗΛΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΑ (urbanspeleology.blogspot.com)

Points of interest

Related
Myths

x
This site is using cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue by pressing the "Accept" button, we assume that you consent to receive all cookies on Mythotopia
Accept