Votive plaque with a relief warrior
Archaeological museum of ancient Messene
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Votive plaque with a relief warrior
4th century BCE
Archaeological museum of ancient Messene
sanctuary of Demeter and the Dioskouroi (sanctuary Ω-Ω), ancient Mesene
Width: 11.3 cm x Height: 22 cm
Fragment of a terracotta votive plaque with a relief depiction of a warrior. He wears a helmet and armour and a chiton. He carries a shield on his left arm and a spear in his right hand. A snake spirals around the spear, passing behind the warrior’s body. Found in the deposit of a sanctuary attributed to the worship of Demeter and the Dioskouroi, not far from and to the west of the Asclepieion of ancient Messene. Found among numerous votive plaques and figurines, with a repertoire that includes funerary banquets, horse riders, warriors, seated and standing male and female figures. They date to from the 7th to the 3rd cent. BCE.