Chersonesan Studies 1: The Polychrome Grave Stelai from the Early Hellenistic Necropolis

8a. Catalog of Associated Elements

249 Inventory numbers have a specific meaning concerning the findspot; the most important 5-digit numbers are: 35756: North necropolis; 1936 36441: Area/Necropolis southwest of the Tower of Zeno; 1956 36579: Area of the Hellenistic pottery kilns next to the Tower of Zeno; 1956 36590: Finds in the southwestern region of the necropolis; burial No. 43; 1963 36676: Area between tower XVII (Tower of Zeno) and tower XVIII; 1960 36847: Tower of Zeno; 1960–61 36764: Curtain wall No 20; 1969 37074: Port area; insula II; 1984 37066: West necropolis, 1983–85 37098: West necropolis, 1983–85 All other 5-digit numbers of the items presented in the following catalog (21187; 32718; 34027; 34028; 34029; 34216; 34487; 34785; 35192; 35428; 35429; 35443; 35450; 35540; 35756; 36548; 36558; 36573; 36589; 36679; 36785; 36880; 36950; 45878) appear only once; they indicate findspots all over the city area and add no specific information. They make clear that elements such as small naiskoi, anthropomorphic objects and their small bases have been found almost everywhere in Chersonesos. All 4-digit numbers (3659, 3665, 3717, 4540, 8168, 8185) refer to early excavations of the late 19th or early 20th century in the “Necropolis of Chersonesos” and have no further specification. Prefix abbreviations CR = separately worked crownings B = bases for stelai N = naiskoi A = anthropomorphic object BA = bases for anthropomorphic objects F = fragment 8a Catalog of Associated Elements 250 Chersonesan Studies 1: The Polychrome Grave Stelai No. CR1 Inv. No. 3665 Dimensions: h 67 w 44.5 th 19 Material: Marble. Colors preserved: Faint red color traces in several areas. Preservation: Complete except for slight damage to parts of the edges, especially the tips of the inner and outer palmette leaves. Surface well preserved. Description: Large, semi-oval anthemion with volute-palmette decoration in pronounced relief . Three acanthus leaves at the bottom are topped by two large volutes that twist outwards . The latter are crowned by two layers of sickle-shaped palmette petals at each side; the outer petals are rendered in very shallow relief and do not project beyond the outline of the anthemion. At the middle of the top is a rosette-like blossom. There is a centered deep mortise for a tenon in the bottom side. The top surface is slightly rounded towards the back but otherwise well flattened; the back is flat but rough. References: Kieseritzky/Watzinger 1909, 18, No. 128, Pl. VIII; Belov 1948, 82, Pl. 13, 1; Bibikov 1976, 7, 7, No. 211, Fig. 109; Zubar/Buiskikh/Kravchenko/Rusyaeva 2005, 336, Fig. 180; Posamentir 2006a, 68, Fig. 74; Buiskikh 2008, 387, Fig. 102.1–2. Separately Worked Crownings Crownings shown at 1:5 251 Catalog of Associated Elements No. CR2 Inv. No. 1963.161 State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg Dimensions: h 65 w 45 th 18 Material: Low quality marble. Colors preserved: None. Preservation: Complete except for damage to the surface of top front, all along the edges, the right volute, and the tips of the outer leaves. Surface heavily weathered. Description: Almost identical in design to No. CR1, see description above. In contrast to No. CR1, there is no blossom in the upper area, but it may have flaked off with the surface. The back shows the same outlines and concave surface as the front face but is only polished and has no relief decoration. The two faces are separated from each other by a deep groove. Reference: Bibikov 1976, 77, No. 212, Fig. 108. 252 Chersonesan Studies 1: The Polychrome Grave Stelai No. CR3 Inv. No. 45878 (4785a according to Biblov) Dimensions: h 64 w 25 th 18 Material: Marble. Colors preserved: None. Preservation: Only right half preserved, upper part damaged. Rest of surface well preserved. Description: Also almost identical in design to No. CR1, see description above. Like No. CR2, there is no blossom in the upper area, but it may have flaked off with the surface. There is a centered deep mortise for a tenon in the bottom side. The top surface is slightly rounded towards the back but otherwise well flattened; the back is flat but rough. Reference: Bibikov 1976, 77, No. 213. 253 Catalog of Associated Elements No. CR4 Inv. No. 36847/68 Excavation No. 75.60 Dimensions: h 56 w 37 th 17.5 Material: Local limestone. Colors preserved: Big parts of the blue background color preserved . Some yellow traces on the petals and purple traces on the tips of the...