La violenza di Herakles su Auge. Studio del procedimento produttivo di pissidi in ceramica argentata e dorata da Lipari derivate da specchi a teca di bronzo

From the Lipari Island come some silvered vases (tin-folied) and one gold leaf vase. Shapes are the pyxis, krateriskos, thymiaterion, louterion, cup, patera, simpulum, dish, strainer, skyphos and situla. The ritual specificity of these shapes seems to prevail over their intrinsic value. The vases, reproducing precious pottery (in silver or gold), are shapes used in the consumption of wine or for the toilette (pyxides) and come from votive pits of the necropolis. The high number of pyxides is linked to the female’s sphere offerings. As is known, the spread of pottery imitating metal vases or other luxury objects seems to be contemporary in Etruria and Apulia. In this study shapes, iconography, production, clay origin and technique (silver plated and gilding) are analyzed in order to understand if these vases are a local or imported production; for this last topic, archaeometric analysis are in progress. The most interesting result of this study is the identification of the original prototypes of the scenes depicted on two pyxides (one in golden leaf pottery and one in silvered pottery): they derive from Greek bronze box mirrors. The scene takes place in a cave near a fountain outside the enclosure of the temple of Athena Alea in Tegea and represents drunken Herakles attracting him to rape her, Auge, who tries to sneak away. The same scene, perhaps taken from similar moulds, appears on the famous silver gilded phiale from the Rogozen Treasure.