Art & Architecture
article | Reading time5 min
Find out how increased contact between populations and trade during Antiquity, thanks in particular to the development of maritime routes, favored the spread of objects, ideas and cultures!
A thousand and one influences
The multiplication of contacts between populations and trade during Antiquity is reflected in numerous examples: cultural (theater, wine, etc.), scientific, technical (writing, weaponry, etc.), or religious (the cults of Dionysus, Apollo, Isis, Mithraism, etc.).
The archaeological material discovered on the Ensérune Oppidum is a perfect illustration of this, reflecting the interest of local populations in Greek culture.
Left: crateriscus with gadroons and knotted handles, garland of ivy leaves painted white and over-gilded, incised central branch. Black-glazed ceramic from the Rosas workshop. Tomb CP 51. Around 300BC.
Right: imitation craterisk with gadroons and bifid handles, traces of black glaze. Ceramic. Tomb S 03. Circa 300BC.
© Laurent Lecat - Centre des monuments nationaux
Celtic ceramics from the Aude and Garonne valleys consist mainly of baluster and ovoid vases, often with smoothed and/or fumigated decoration.
However, the development of trade with the Mediterranean greatly modified the range of tableware used by Gallic populations.
The trade and consumption of wine introduced new shapes to traditional crockery. These included jugs, olpees, pitchers and craters.
They are found throughout the socio-cultural spaces of indigenous (aboriginal?) societies. They can be found both in habitats and in burial sites.
Left: crater, depicting an arimaspe on horseback fighting two griffins. Plant motif and Greek frieze. Antique repairs with lead staples. Greek ceramics with red figures. Tomb GR 01. Circa -375.
Right: imitation Greek crater. Ceramic. Tomb BG 39. Circa 300BC.
© Laurent Lecat - Centre des monuments nationaux
Both Greek craters and Iberian jugs were very popular at Ensérune. The former is widely represented in the tombs of the necropolis, where it is popular as an ossuary vase, while the latter, also found in the tombs, is available in various modules ranging from a liter to a few centiliters for miniature forms.
From the 4th century onwards, these Mediterranean forms were imitated, copied and reproduced.
Potters' workshops from Ensérune to Ampurias produced vases imitating these Mediterranean shapes, although they retained their own local techniques and details.
Left: crater, oval decoration on lip, garland of myrtle leaves in relief, ribbons and rosettes. Antique repair holes. Greek ceramics with red figures. Tomb CP 42. Circa -330.
Right: imitation Greek crater. Ceramic. Tomb S 06. Circa -300.
© Laurent Lecat - Centre des monuments nationaux