ИСТИНА

The various types of ancient headwear are by themselves carriers of meaning (markers of identity, cultic or festive role, divinity). Their very position above or around the head, a main focal zone, emphasizes their importance. The tall cylindrical head-dresses (kalathoi/poloi) adorning the statues of goddesses and other female figures in ancient art could also serve as surfaces for reliefs, further utilizing their capacity for the display of imagery (apotropaic, processional-cultic, mythical) and creation of meaning. In this paper I plan to highlight and explore a range of situations, where the potential of decorated head-dresses is most pronounced. This group includes (but is not limited to) archaeological finds of the real headwear, votive statues from Cyprus, terracotta figurines from various centers of production, polos-shaped votive objects and the Delphic caryatide heads. This last group is particularly informative: on the one hand, their imagery is elaborate and “programmatic”, on the other – their poloi can be read as head-dresses and architectural elements as well, related to the caryatides’ position in the broader decoration and semantics of the treasuries. I plan to pursue two non-exclusive lines of interpretation. It is possible to examine how real-world cultic practices are projected onto the decorated head-dresses. The reliefs of the head-dress, however, also open up the possibility for the onlookers to peer into the mythical world.