Statue of a priestess
Archaeological museum of ancient Messene
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Statue of a priestess
2nd century
Archaeological museum of ancient Messene
Asclepieion of Messene Oikos of Artemis Phosphoros (Οikos Κ), ancient Messene
Statue
White marbleHeight: 82 cm
Marble statue of a priestess, standing on a plinth on her left leg. She wears a long chiton, a himation and shoes. Her left arm, bent to the front at the elbow. The right one missing from the middle of the forearm. Three statues of priestesses of Orthia were found in 1962/1963 in the Artemision of the Asclepieion . They are 2nd cent. CE copies of common statue types of the 4th cent. BCE. According to the inscriptions on the cylindrical bases (preserved in situ in the sanctuary) they depict Kallida daughter of Aristocles, Eirana, daughter of Nymphodotos and Claudia Sitiris. They wear a foot-long chiton and a himation and were holding boxes of incense in their outstretched left hand. The statues of the priestesses were dedicated in the temple (after they had successfully completed their service) by the “holy elders of Oupesia”, a council of elders responsible for running the sanctuary and organising the rituals.