axe; religious/ritual equipment

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axe; religious/ritual equipment

Object Type: axe; religious/ritual equipment
Museum number: 1884,0614.31
Description: Bronze ceremonial shaft-hole axe-head inscribed with a religious dedication; wedge-shaped blade with curving sides; elaborate shaft decorated with a cast figure of a winged creature depicted frontally, probably a sphinx, details of the wings and hair rendered as deep incisions; bead-and-reel and tongue borders above and below the figure; the edges of the shaft holes are also decorated; the terminal of the axe-head comprises a rectangular projection ending in a bulbous head, with a stepped transition between the two elements; the inscription is inscribed on the blade with seven lines of characters in the Achaean Greek alphabet.
Cultures/periods: Western Greek
Production date: 520BC (circa)
Production place: Made in: Sybaris (historic)
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot: San Sosti (near)
Materials: bronze
Technique: cast; incised
Dimensions: Diameter: 8.85 centimetres; Height: 15.50 centimetres; Height: 16.50 centimetres; Length: 14 centimetres; Weight: 0.85 kilograms (inc mount); Width: 8.80 centimetres
$Inscriptions
Bibliographic references: Bronze / Catalogue of the Bronzes in the British Museum. Greek, Roman & Etruscan. (252); Inscription / The Collection of Ancient Greek Inscriptions in the British Museum (1094)
Location: On display (G73/dc72)
Subjects: sphinx (?); classical deity
Associated names: Named in inscription: Hera/Juno; Named in inscription: Kyniskos
Acquisition name: Purchased from: Alessandro Castellani (sale)
Acquisition date: 1884
Department: Greek and Roman
Registration number: 1884,0614.31

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