Agora Object: A 818
Inventory Number:   A 818
Section Number:   ΙΙ 251
Title:   Lintel Block Fragments: Painted
ΤΙΤΛΟΣ:   Μαρμάρινο υπέρθυρο με ζωγραφιστό διάκοσμο (λέαινες και φυτικά στοιχεία)
Category:   Architecture Marble
Description:   Seven fragments, making up to four:
a) Two joining fragments preserve full height of block and left end of block, part of bracket and of coffer.
b) Two joining fragments preserve part of fascia below face A, to full height.
c) Two joining fragments preserve part of face B, with full height of fascia, part of soffit and coffer.
d) Preserves full height of fascia below face B, with soffit and part of coffer.
e) A sizable fragment, found 7 April 1959 in file of marbles from 1938-1939 excavations, which joins fragment a) at right and gives part of lioness' belly and part of front leg.
A 812 (ΙΙ 199) also belongs.
The fragments preserve the full height, one end, and parts of both faces of the block: fragments of lintel with faces at both sides and a deeply sunken coffer below. Face A, and probably face B, had a taenia of molding above (its profile now lost) and a plain deep fascia frames both faces below. The fascia below faces B, and with it the side wall of the coffer, is ca. 0.05m. deeper than that below face A; the difference is taken up at the end of the block by a narrow low bracket with simple curving profile.
The end of the block has a marked batter toward the top, and is dresses as a contact surface. In the top of the block is preserved part of the cutting for a T-clamp, its head ca. 0.19m. from the end of the block, its shank 0.08m. back from face A. In the end of the block is a rough cutting, probably for lifting; it lied 0.20m. above the soffit of the block, and 0.07m back from face A.
The block was elaborately decorated in color: Face A: preserved are the hindquarters of a lioness walking right, her left leg advanced, her tail arched over her back. There are no traces of color over most of the body, but the tuft of the tail is modeled in white stucco in low relief. Enough traces of similar stucco remain around the outlines of tail and body to suggest that much of the design was carried out in this technique. But there are considerable traces of pink on her teats, and some suggestion of inner drawing on her legs. At the left, a fair amount of white (stucco?) clings to an object which might be a tree-trunk; here also are some hints of inner drawing in red.
The background is a thick coat of blue frit, very fugitive as it dries. Above and below, the scene is bordered by a band of red and one of green.
The soffit of the crowning molding is red; the fascia below has traces near its lower left corner of decoration in color.
Face B: No trace of color, except a little possible white near upper corner of preserved bit.
Coffer: The side walls carry a neat lotus and palmette, in a color now missing, against a background of blue. Above and below is a narrow band of red. Of the central design nothing can be recovered; the background was blue. On the soffit of the block a single broad band of red frames the coffer.
Note: the thickness of the block suggested in the drawing is hypothetical and was reached by assuming a width of one ancient foot (0.296m.) for the coffer.
Pentelic marble.
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ΠΕΡΙΓΡΑΦΗ:   Μαρμάρινο υπέρθυρο, με ζωγραφιστό διάκοσμο από λέαινες και φυτικά στοιχεία. Αποτελείται από επτά συνενούμενα τμήματα.
Notes:   Color sample with guilding in Drawer 41 (Study Collections?).
in the Museum Gallery until 2004, between Cases 64-65.
Context:   Original fill of Valerian Wall.
Negatives:   Leica, 8-29, 8-30, 8-171, XLV-86, XLVI-1, XLIII-2, LVII-98, 81-428, 81-429
PD Number:   PD 1167, Ptg. 159, Ptg. 276
Dimensions:   H. a) 0.44, b) 0.115, c) 0.468, d) 0.165, e) 0.31; W. a) ca. 0.38, b) 0.29, c) 0.36, d) 0.193, (rough lifting cutting) 0.05; Th. a) ca. 0.27, b) 0.115, c) 0.25, d) 0.192; L. (rough lifting cutting) 0.05; D. (rough lifting cutting) ca. 0.05
Material:   Marble
Date:   10 March 1938
Section:   ΙΙ
Bibliography:   Camp (2007), p. 62, figs. 75, 76A, B.
    Guide (1990), p. 260.
    Guide (1976), p. 258.
    Guide (1962), p. 172.
    Hesperia 23 (1954), pp. 169-184, pls. A, 39-48.
    Hesperia 8 (1939), p. 221, fig. 17.
References:   Publication: Hesperia 8 (1939)
Publication: Hesperia 23 (1954)
Plans and Drawings (4)
Images (16)
Cards and Envelopes (4)