Description:
standing female figure with draped garments and a large, basket-like crown with hair loose; Greek and Roman mythology; woman; goddess; religion

Label Text:
This figurine depicts the Greek goddess Kore. She wears a draped garment known as a peplos and a polos crown, suggesting her role as queen of the underworld. This sculpture was originally painted with vibrant red, yellow, and blue pigments, some of which are still faintly visible on her lips, garment, and base. The rectangular vent in the back protected the piece during firing and helps date its creation. Similar statuettes present in other museums indicate the use of a mold to cast the figure’s form. SCMA does not know the origin of this object, but it likely served a devotional purpose and may have been placed in a tomb or sanctuary.

Tags:
women; mythology; archaeology

Subjects:
Mythology; archaeological objects; Women; Terra-cotta

Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=SC+1990.2.11

Research on objects in the collections, including provenance, is ongoing and may be incomplete. If you have additional information or would like to learn more about a particular object, please email fc-museums-web@fivecolleges.edu.