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A Terracotta Mold Discovered in Chartres (France, Eure-et-Loir) with Original Iconography for Apollo

Loïc Androuin and David Wavelet

Abstract

In this note, we introduce a mold for a terracotta figurine that represents the god Apollo, whose iconography is unprecedented in the products of central Gaul.

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Full text

  • 1 Wavelet, Bailles 2022.

1In Chartres-Autricum, the main site of the Carnute people in antiquity, archaeological excavations that took place in 2020 at 1 Quatorze-Juillet Street revealed the existence of a potter’s workshop located on the western outskirts of the ancient city. The occupation of the site began in the first century C.E. with a metalworking workshop. However, it was not until the third century that artisanal activities expanded significantly, marked by the discovery of two remarkably well-preserved sets of potters' kilns.1

2The first complex, situated in the northwest, was formed by a working pit connected to two masonry kilns, one large and one small. The second complex, located in the southeast, has a working pit leading to two large and one small kilns that were dug into the natural ground. The pottery assemblage, dated from at least the last half of the third century C.E., is commonplace and includes bowls, dishes, and cups.

Fig. 1. A terracotta mold for a figure of Apollo seen from the front, three-quarters, and back. The last image is the inside of the mold in an inverted 3D scan

Fig. 1. A terracotta mold for a figure of Apollo seen from the front, three-quarters, and back. The last image is the inside of the mold in an inverted 3D scan

© L. Androuin; J. Rossignol

3A mold for the front of a male figure was discovered in the abandonment layer of one of these kilns (fig. 1). Although incomplete, with the entire lower half and the left part of the face missing, it depicts a male figure seated in a three-quarters view facing right, leaning slightly backwards and supported by his left arm; his left hand rests on an unknown object. His upper torso is nude, while a loop of drapery covers his left shoulder presumably falling down his back until it is pulled over his lower body. His right arm seems to be extended forward, suggesting that his hand once held an object that now is missing. His masculine head is framed by wavy hair that falls down his neck. No divine attributes, such as symbols or objects associated with gods, are visible due to the poor preservation of the mold. But the posture, the partial nudity with this arrangement of a cloak, and the characterization of the head suggest a representation of the god Apollo. He likely once held a patera, while the left hand appears to be resting on an element that we can assume to be a lyre.

  • 2 Rouvier-Jeanlin 1972, 221.
  • 3 Beenhouwer 2005, 606.

4Terracotta figurines depicting Apollo are relatively rare in Gaul. In the representations that are known, the god is depicted standing, semi-nude while partially draped in a cloak and holding a patera and a lyre.2 Only one other iconographic type has been identified that relates to the Chartres example. This was produced in a Cologne (Germany) workshop between the late second and early third centuries C.E. and also presents the god seated and semi-nude.3 However, slight differences in the presentation of Apollo and in the arrangement of his cloak suggests that the Chartres mold is the first known example of yet an additional iconographic type that represents the god seated.

  • 4 This workshop will soon be presented in other venues.

5If a production of Apollo figurines is identified in workshops located in the lower Allier Valley and those in eastern Gaul/Germania, this mold suggests the possibility of a third manufacturing center in Chartes, as is evident by the coroplastic workshop that has been found in 2021.4 It is hoped that future discoveries, whether in Chartres or elsewhere, will yield figurines originating from this workshop and produced from the same mold. Such finds would indeed significantly contribute to enhancing our understanding of the coroplastic productions in Chartres.

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Bibliography

De Beenhouwer, J. 2005. De gallo-romeinse terracottastatuetten van belgische vindplaatsen in het ruimer kader van de noordwest-europese terracotta-industrie. Leuven: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.

Rouvier-Jeanlin, M. 1972. Les figurines gallo-romaines en terre cuite au musée des antiquités nationales. Collection Supplément à Gallia, 24. Paris: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.

Wavelet, D., and A. Bailles. 2022. “Fabricando fit faber, Métallurgie et fours de potiers, activités artisanales dans le quartier du Grand-Faubourg. 1 rue du Quatorze-Juillet, 62 à 68 rue du Grand-Faubourg à Chartres (Eure-et-Loir Centre-Val de Loire).” Rapport de fouilles archéologiques. Chartres Métropole: Direction de l’archéologie.

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Notes

1 Wavelet, Bailles 2022.

2 Rouvier-Jeanlin 1972, 221.

3 Beenhouwer 2005, 606.

4 This workshop will soon be presented in other venues.

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List of illustrations

Title Fig. 1. A terracotta mold for a figure of Apollo seen from the front, three-quarters, and back. The last image is the inside of the mold in an inverted 3D scan
Credits © L. Androuin; J. Rossignol
URL http://journals.openedition.org/acost/docannexe/image/3998/img-1.jpg
File image/jpeg, 245k
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References

Electronic reference

Loïc Androuin and David Wavelet, A Terracotta Mold Discovered in Chartres (France, Eure-et-Loir) with Original Iconography for ApolloLes Carnets de l’ACoSt [Online], 24 | 2024, Online since 01 June 2024, connection on 15 February 2025. URL: http://journals.openedition.org/acost/3998; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4000/11rv1

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About the authors

Loïc Androuin

EPHE-PSL, ED 472, UMR 8210 ANHIMA (Paris, France)

loic.androuin0@orange.fr

David Wavelet

Archaeologist, Chartres Métropole (Chartres, Eure-et-Loir, France)

david.wavelet@agglo-ville.chartres.fr

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Copyright

CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0

The text only may be used under licence CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. All other elements (illustrations, imported files) are “All rights reserved”, unless otherwise stated.

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