Late-Archaic temple architecture in Olbia Pontica III: a Palmette akroterion
Late-Archaic temple architecture in Olbia Pontica III: a Palmette akroterion

Summary/Abstract: Olbia Pontica hosts a remarkable terracotta detail – a frontal palmette akroterion, found at the Western temenos. The stylistic analysis of some separate fragments allowed them to be joined in a single detail, that had to decorate the temple façade, and to propose its possible reconstruction. In addition, the sima fragments gave the possibility to reconstruct the connection of the akroterion with the drainage system on the apex of the temple’s fronton. The dedication graffito on the back side of the akroterion attributed it as belonging to the temple of Apollo Hietros. Looking at the other two frontal akroteria, from limestone and terracotta, that were attributed earlier as those that could have decorated the same temple, they were decided to be the result of the constant repairs made at this temple. Stylistically identical terracotta details were also found in Miletus, Histria, and Leuke island. The artisan production of the terracotta temple decorations came from the metropolis, Miletus, that had to supply her daughter-cities in the north- western Pontus with the decoration of the model temple.

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