In recent years a hitherto unknown wall-painting from the Palace of Nestor in Pylos depicting a squadron of ships has been the target of intensive study and reconstruction. On Monday, 25 November 2013, at 7.00 p.m., in the framework of the Cycladic Seminar, organized at the Archaeological Society by Marisa Marthari, Jack L. Davis, Sharon R. Stocker and Hariklia Brecoulaki will present for the first time in public the final reconstruction of the “Pylian fleet”.
As they mention in the announcement of their lecture, entitled “Of ships – and sealing wax – and kings. The Theran miniature frieze, the Pylos ship frieze, and power in the Mycenaean world”, the three archaeologists will consider two separate but related matters: “1) the extent to which the ship fresco at Akrotiri influenced our attempts at reconstructing its Pylian cousin, and the steps we have taken to avoid allowing the former to determine our perception of the latter; 2) how similar the two works really are. Should we imagine the one as a linear descendent of the other, and, if so, what importance can be attached to such a conclusion? Do they both derive from a common prototype? Or are similarities merely superficial, and the representations unrelated and independent in origin?”
The lecture will be given at the Archaeological Society at Athens (22 Panepistimiou str.).
