Mycenaean Type Archaic G 2-3 Alabastra from Tenedos

Abstract

This work examines two pottery alabastra recovered from the necropolis of Tenedos. These two alabastra closely recall Mycenaean forerunners in terms of typology, while the decorations applied on their surfaces are alike to those of G 2-3 Ware defining the seventeenth century in the region. Because these two alabastra lack contextual information at Tenedos, they could be placed into the second half of the seventh / beginning of the sixth century BC based on comparisons with those found at the site of Hephaestia on Lemnos. These alabastra from Tenedos indicate that hybrid pottery containing both older forms going back to the Mycenaean times and new decoration styles representing regional G 2-3 Ware were used for mortuary purposes alongside the imported Corinthian wares of all types. These two alabastra examples from Tenedos in this context could be viewed as archaeological manifestation of the continuation of old trends in North-east Aegean Archaic pottery on Tenedos as observed on nearby island of Lemnos.