Description
This volume explores the complex socio-economic, cultural, and political dynamics between Athens, Greek colonies, and indigenous populations through the trade and distribution of Attic pottery. Focusing primarily on the second half of the fifth century BCE—with particular emphasis on Sicily, Campania, Apulia, and the broader Mediterranean—the collected studies examine patterns of import, local imitation, and contextual reception across funerary and sanctuary contexts. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of ceramic workshops, shapes (such as lekythoi and column craters), and iconographic themes highlight the role of trade routes, regional distribution networks, and strategic maritime corridors like the Strait of Messina. Furthermore, the contributions address processes of indigenous self-representation, cultural hybridity, and the ideological impact of Athenian visual propaganda—including citations of Phidias's Athena Parthenos. Ultimately, the publication provides a nuanced framework for understanding trade, elite consumption, and intercultural exchange in the ancient Western Mediterranean.
