Guld funerary wreath

The wreath consists of two tubular stems imitating branches, upon which olive leaves made of thin gold leaf are attached with the help of fine gold wire. The leaves have a central vein, while some have also side parallel veining. The size of leaves diminishes slightly towards the top of the wreath. The joining point of the two branches is decorated with a circular granulated element.

The custom of placing gold wreaths in tombs was quite common in the 4th and 3th c. BC. The wreath was placed on the head of the deceased as part of the funerary garb, or simply deposited on the floor of the grave as an offering. The type of leaves depended on the deity worshiped by the family or the religious or political community of the deceased: oak leaves for Zeus, olive leaves for Athens, myrtle leaves for Aphrodite and Demeter, ivy leaves for Dionysus. The funerary wreath indicated the status of the dead and offered them the aura of a victor.

PUBLICATION
– Laffineur R. 1980. ‘Collection Paul Canellopoulos (XV). Bijoux en or grecs et romains’, Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 104, 345-457, esp. 406-408.
– Saraga Ν. 2006. Cat. no. 143, in Choremi-Spetsieri Α. – Zarkadas Α. (eds), The Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Museum. Ancient Art, Athens, 228-229.