Female terracotta figurines from the Yalta sanctuary of late roman times (excavations by a.l. Berthier-delagarde in 1905)
Female terracotta figurines from the Yalta sanctuary of late roman times (excavations by a.l. Berthier-delagarde in 1905)

Summary/Abstract: The article discusses the terracotta figurines discovered by A.L. Bertye-Delagard during the investigation of the Yalta (Autka) sanctuary in 1905. Currently, the Odessa Archaeological Museum houses eight figurines; one was lost, but its photograph has been published. The terracotta figurines can be conventionally divided into two groups: the first includes four realistic representations of a standing goddess, and the second consists of five anthropomorphic figurines. The figurines of the first group were probably produced in the Tauric Chersonesos, where the production of similar items is documented in the period from the 2nd to the 4th centuries. It is obvious that the workshops manufactured these figurines to satisfy the demand of the city's inhabitants, but they could also have supplied the local barbarians. As for the production of anthropomorphic figurines, the dominant opinion is that they were handmade by the barbarians. However, it is important to note some distinctive features of these figurines: they are hollow, have a symmetrical shape, clear edges and uniform wall thickness. The firing is satisfactory. It is likely that some simplified forms were used in their production. It is possible that the same workshops produced terracotta figurines of both types. The anthropomorphic figurines were probably not made specifically for barbarians; rather, they were intended for the inhabitants of the Tauric Chersonese as a more affordable option in the product range.

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