Bronze handle
Archaeological museum Messenia, Kalamata
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Bronze handle
6th century BCE
Archaeological museum Messenia, Kalamata
Volimnos on Taygetus, Messenia
Width: 7.2 cm x Height: 6.2 cm
Bronze oinochoe handle in the shape of two intertwined snakes. Their twisted tails shape two volutes, with a downwardly facing palmette with five incised leaves. The heads are turned to opposite directions. The triangular free space between them is filled with a protruding palmette with five incised leaves. The head skin the eyes and the mouth of the snakes are rendered with incisions and bas relief. Handed by a resident of Volimnos, were the sanctuary of Artemis Limnatis was located, not far from Artemisia on Messenian Taygetus. It was probably a votive offering to the sanctuary of Artemis Limnatis at Volimnos, near Nedousa. Bronze offerings from the area of Volimnos are exhibited in the Archaeological museum of Messenia. Located in Volimnos is the small church of Panagia Volimniotisa or Kapsochelovolousa, with ancient architectural members and inscriptions having been immured in its masonry. The finds attest that the sanctuary was in operation from the early geometric period (mid 8th cent. BCE) to the late antiquity (3rd/4th cent. CE).