Pair of jumping-weights (halteres)
Pair of identical cast jumping-weights. On the outside is depicted in relief a crouching boar ready to attack. A bronze tusk is preserved on the muzzle, a vertical strip along the head indicates the mane, while the ears and the tail are rendered in low relief. A wide opening in the abdomen area would serve to hold the jumping-weight during the jump.
The boar, an animal that embodies war virtues, was associated with the worship of Zeus in Dodona. The pair of jumping-weights would most likely be a gift from a winner in the Naia Games, who wished to thank the god for the victorious outcome of his contest.
- Athens, National Archaeological Museum, Inv. n. Καρ. 855 α-β
- Late 3rd c. BC
- H. a) 0.103 m. b) 0.101 m.
- L. a) 0.185 m. b) 0.185 m.
- W. a) 0.176 k. b) 0.167 k.
- Lead, bronze
- Provenance: Probably from the sanctuary of Zeus at Dodona
Bibliography
- Δάκαρης, Σ. Ι. (1960). Το ιερόν της Δωδώνης, ΑΔ 16, Α΄ Μελέτες, 35 σημ. 76, πίν. 13.
- Kaltsas, Ν. (Ed.), (2008). Agon. The Spirit of Competition in ancient Greece, An archaeological exhibition at the Capital Museum, Beijing, July 31 – October 14, 2008, 166, αρ. 66 (M. Ζapheiropoulou), Athens: Ministry of Culture.
- Παντερμαλής, Δ., Σουέρεφ, Ι., et al. (Επιμ.), (2016). Δωδώνη. Το μαντείο των ήχων. Κατάλογος έκθεσης στο Μουσείο Ακρόπολης, 17.06.2016 - 10.01.2017, 127, αρ. 141 (Α. Χατζηπαναγιώτου), Αθήνα: Εκδόσεις Μουσείου Ακρόπολης.
