The Maritime Transport of Sculptures in the Ancient Mediterranean

Velentza, Katerina

Abstract

From the 16th century onwards various ancient sculptures have been discovered in the Mediterranean Sea from the context of surveyed shipwrecks, potential unrecorded shipwrecks or out of context as isolated finds. Scholars so far have analysed several of those sculptural artefacts from an art historical perspective, basing the interpretation of their maritime transportation and underwater deposition on possible hypotheses and not on actual archaeological data due to the problematic recording and the remoteness of their underwater context. Therefore, it has been unclear by whom, how and when these sculptures were transported and traded during Classical Antiquity. The present thesis examines anew this subject
from the lenses of both maritime and classical archaeology. With a focus on the underwater context of already retrieved sculptures, this research aims at comprehending in detail the various circumstances under which ancient sculptural artefacts were carried on board ancient merchant ships and were consequently deposited under water. Through, first of all, the creation of an extensive Mediterranean-wide database with more than 100 known incidents of ancient sculptures found under water all around the Mediterranean Sea and, secondly, the in-depth analysis of three shipwreck case studies, the Porticello, the Mahdia and the Favaritx shipwrecks, a new interpretation is presented for this maritime activity. Therefore, this research reveals new details for the maritime transport and distribution of sculptures during the period of Classical Antiquity, while also providing clearer information regarding the naval and structural characteristics of the ships carrying them. Finally, this research manifests the importance of the thorough recording of underwater archaeological evidence, despite the challenging natural environment. Hence, it is hoped to raise awareness among archaeologists in order to eliminate the salvage of ancient sculptures out of their underwater context, a fact that has been encouraging the illicit trade of such antiquities.

Citation

Velentza, K. (2020). The Maritime Transport of Sculptures in the Ancient Mediterranean. (Thesis). University of Southampton. https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4537124

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Feb 5, 2024
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.5258/SOTON/T0024
• Keywords: Maritime archaeology
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4537124
• External URL: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/449386
• Award Date: Apr 19, 2021