Pages: 129-151 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.55086/sp264129151
This article examines two gold medallions depicting a female deity, found in the northern undercut of grave 287, dated from the late 1st to the early 2nd century AD, in the Roman-period necropolis of Frontovoye 3 (Southwestern Crimea). The anthropological evidence suggests that a man was buried here, but wearing elaborate female attire. Drawing on ancient sources, we may hypothesize that this man belonged to the Enarei — effeminate diviners who wore female attire. The presence of two medallions depicting a goddess suggests that the deceased may have held a priestly role. However, considering the grave goods as a whole, the deceased may instead have been a woman who also served as a priestess. Medallions depicting a female deity are known from other archaeological sites in the Northern Black Sea region. Depending on their combination of attributes, scholars identify these female figures as Aphrodite, Artemis, etc. Analysis of the iconography of the Frontovoye medallions indicates that the figure most likely represents a syncretic image of the local Great Goddess.
Keywords: Northern Black Sea region, Roman period, necropolis, burials, gold medallions, female deity, manufacturing techniques
Information about authors:
Anna Mastykova (Moscow, Russian Federation). Doctor of Historical Sciences. Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dmitry Ulyanov St., 19, Moscow, 117292, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0001-7521-5071
Irina Saprykina (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dmitry Ulyanov St., 19, Moscow, 117292, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0003-0059-0170
Nikolay Sudarev (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dmitry Ulyanov St., 19, Moscow, 117292, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0001-8827-9656