Agora Object: A 958
Inventory Number:   A 958
Section Number:   ΟΑ 693
Title:   Chimney Pot
Category:   Architecture Terracotta
Description:   Lid and about a quarter to a third of stand preserved; restored in plaster.
This curious object consists of an umbrella-like cover, with a wide vertical rim which overhangs the bluntly conical stand attached below. The stand is open at the bottom; at the top, protected by the overhanging cover, are eight large, holes cut in the wet clay, in the form of triangles, alternately upright and inverted. Four heavy struts now missing ran from lower edge of covet to wall of stand. Soft pinkish buff clay, straw-tempered; the top and rim of cover waterproofed with a thin brownish glaze.
No traces of smoke or burning.
ADDENDA
Fuller description of A 957 and A 958, with references (by A.W. Parsons?).
"During the mending of the pottery from one of the many wells (Well 8) on the N.W. slope of the Acropolis to rare, if not unique, objects came to light. The well is one of the group which seems to have been filled up close to the end of the 6th century B.C. the objects are a wellhead (A 957) and what is apparently a chimney-pot (A 958).
The chimney pot resembles more than anything else a giant and very thick-stemmed mushroom. The body is a stand in the shape of a truncated cone 0.53m. in diameter at the bottom and about 0.305m. in diameter above. To the top of this is attached an umbrella-like lid: a convex disk ca. 0.495m. in diameter, with a hanging vertical rim. The whole stands ca. 0.48m. high. Four heavy struts, slightly curved, like handles, connect the lower edge of the rim with the wall of the stand just above its middle. At the top of the stand, close under the lid and protected by its overhang and the rim, are eight openings, alternately pendent and standing triangles. These average about 0.06m. high. The top of the convex lid and the outside of its rim have received a coat of thin brownish waterproofing.
The identification of this curious object as a chimney-pot is suggested by several considerations. The waterproofing and the protection provided for the openings show that is was intended to stand out of doors. The openings are too small for lighting and probably for ventilation (cf. the Haubenziegel from Pompeii illustrated by Durm (1905), p. 333, fig. 362 (Bauk. D. Etr. U. Röm.) which is very reminiscent of ours but with marked differences); but they are very much of a size with the holes punched in the jars still in use as chimney-post in some of the Greek islands. Finally, the "lid" were it detachable (and doubtless it had a detachable prototype) would correspond exactly to ancient descriptions of the τηλια, the chimney-cover, which prevented Philocleon from escaping by the smoke hole (Aristophanes, Wasps, 147).
Against this identification we must point out that there is no trace, inside or out, of discoloration by smoke or fire."
For the description of the wellhead, see A 957.
Context:   Well 8.
Handling:   Shellac joins are no longer well adhered.
Negatives:   Leica
PD Number:   PD 843
Dimensions:   H. 0.48; Diam. (lid) 0.495
Material:   Terracotta
Date:   28 May-16 June 1938
Section:   ΟΑ
Elevation:   -14.8--14.8m.
Deposit:   T 24:3
Lot:   Lot ΟΑ 95
Bibliography:   Tsakirgis (2007a), p. 229, fig. 24.3 c.
    Hesperia 70 (2001), pp. 173-175, fig. 7.
    Guide (1976), p. 281.
    Guide (1962), p. 190.
Is Similar To:   Agora:Object:Durm (1905), p. 333, fig. 362.
References:   Publication: Hesperia 70 (2001)
Drawing: PD 843 (DA 3380)
Images (6)
Deposit: T 24:3
Cards and Envelopes (6)