Archaic Terracotta Figurines from the Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore at Corinth, Greece

FAIN: FT-58889-11

Susan H. Langdon
Mizzou (Columbia, MO 65211-3020)

Excavations in the 1960s at ancient Corinth in Greece revealed a sanctuary dedicated to the goddesses Demeter and Kore. The abundant finds included 24,000 terracotta figurines made as offerings from the 7th c BCE to the Roman conquest of the city. I have been invited by the excavators to publish the figurines that date from the earliest worship to the end of the Archaic period, 700-480 BCE. I have created a database for 500 well-preserved figurines and 1,800 for quantification purposes. Next summer I will work in the Corinth museum, analyzing the terracottas by date, source, fabric, and type based partly on comparison with figurines from other Greek sites and museums. My study is critical in determining precisely when worship began and what influences may have led to the establishment of the cult at this site. Moreover, it contributes to understanding how early communities created ritual activities and beliefs to serve a growing population within a complex regional setting.