A Group of Roman Strigilai in the Ephesus Museum

Abstract

The subject of this article is on six strigilai, of which one is made of iron, one of copper and four worked as bronze. All are preserved in the Ephessos Museum and were purchased in different times. Five of them are intact, apart from one example represented only with its spoon part. They have different measures, the shortest one being 15 cm and the longest one 28.6 cm. These measurements are parallel to other strigilis findings.

The handle form of the strigilis play an important role in the chronological order from the 5th century BC to the 1st century BC. Handles seem to gradually become quadrangle within the centuries. With the 1st century BC the development of the quadragle handle form seems to be finished. The only change in strigilis belonging to the first century AD is the concave bow on the egdes of the handles and the narrow handle gap. This determination is important for a terminus for the strigilis. This develepment continues from the 1st century AD to the end of the Roman Period.

In the Roman period the handle is not the determinant factor in the dating of the strigilis anymore, as it was substituted by the general typology of the strigilis. In the pre Roman Period there is a kind of attachment between the handle of the strigilis and the spoon. However in the Ephesos examples which were analysed typologically, it is observed that none of them have this attachement and that the handle is directly adhered to the spoon. It can be determined that there are three different types. These types are grouped in terms of technical features and differences between handle and spoon.

According to Kotera-Feyer's classification the analysis on Ephesos examples show that they can be grouped as the ones with "Vertical Form" and four of them as the "Reverse S Form". Kotera-Feyer's "Reverse S Form" has the same typological features with Bonis's "Pannonia Type". "Pannonia" and "Reverse S Form" types of strigilai are parallel with the Anatolian one when we consider the forms of the Ephesian examples. However their ornaments are different. This fact indicates that one of the subordinate group of these strigilai could have been produced in Anatolia. The suggested date for the "Reverse S Form" strigilai by Kotela-Feyer is 1st century AD. However with the enlightment of the Laodikeian examples the suggested date by Kotela-Feyer can be receeded to the Augustian Period.

Four of the mentioned strigilai have ornaments on their handles and spoons. In one example the ornament is applied only to the handle. The majority of the ornaments are floral and geometric. Only one example is represented with a temple and a snake, within geometrical and floral motives on the spoon part. Linear and plantal ornaments, geometrical ornaments, star, architectural designs and figurative scenes are represented only on one strigilis alltogether, thus it is a unique example. The snake and star motives on the strigilis must have been related with the Dioskorai and the represantation of a temple can be related with the religious tends of the items owner.

The examples from the Ephesus Museum are dated according their decorations and by using Feyer's method. Accordingly, the "Reverse S" formed examples are dated to the 2nd century AD and the "Vertical" formed Strigilai to the 1st century AD.