Funeral Jewelry and Gold Artifacts from the Yüksel Erı̇mtan Collection: Examination of Ritual and Artistic Values

This study examines a group of gold artifacts from the Yüksel Erimtan Collection, focusing on their ritual and artistic significance. The examination includes 15 gold artifacts, categorized as funerary jewelry, comprising mouth-eye bands, wreaths, wreath fragments, and eye appliques. These artifacts...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ayşe Avli, Zerrin Aydın Tavukçu
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Istanbul University Press 2024-12-01
Series:Anadolu Araştırmaları
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Online Access:https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/FEB5C2783B454D748BE4858DDA1D0F69
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Summary:This study examines a group of gold artifacts from the Yüksel Erimtan Collection, focusing on their ritual and artistic significance. The examination includes 15 gold artifacts, categorized as funerary jewelry, comprising mouth-eye bands, wreaths, wreath fragments, and eye appliques. These artifacts are distinct from personal adornments, being crafted from thinner and less durable gold plates. Experimental investigations based on cranial measurements of adult individuals were undertaken to determine the functional aspects of the mouth-eye bands and eye appliques. The findings revealed that the mouth-eye bands were diverse and exhibited different forms: Long, thin strips on the arms and rhombic bands were determined to be mouth bands. Additionally, a round-shaped artifact was identified as an eye band. Eye appliques stand out among these artifacts, likely used as funeral jewelry, alongside wreaths and their fragments, which are tentatively dated from the 1st century BC to the 2nd century AD. Notable, pieces include spiral-shaped, stylized snake-head earrings from the 5th–4th centuries BC and ring-disk earrings reflecting the Roman Imperial Period fashion, posited to have originally served as pendulums. The study also includes pendulum and hook earrings from the Roman Imperial Period, adorned with semiprecious stones. Collectively, the artifacts in the Erimtan Collection exemplify craftsmanship spanning from the 5th century BC to the 4th century AD, offering valuable insight into the fashion and artistry of the period.
ISSN:2667-629X