Gold Ivy Wreath from Nea Apollonia, Thessaloniki

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Nathalie Choubineh
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published on 01 October 2024
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Gold Ivy Wreath from Nea Apollonia, Thessaloniki Download Full Size Image

Gold ivy wreath from Nea Apollonia, Thessaloniki, 350-325 BCE.

Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki.

Ceremonial wreaths were among the most prestigious adornments in the ancient Greek world. Probably a predecessor of later royal crowns, these emblematic headgears used to sit elaborately on the locks of male and female gods, rulers, priests, and heroes on various occasions such as religious festivals, public appearances, funerals, and sacrifices, athletic and performance competitions, and liminal or casual gatherings. Although most famously made of laurel leaves, the Greek stephanoi of olive, ivy, and oak leaves also survive in painted or sculpted forms. Macedonian royal burials are among the most prolific contexts of retrieving gold and silver wreaths, which were traditionally placed on the funerary casket that preserved the bones of the elites in their burial chamber. Today, collections of glamorous Macedonian wreaths from Philip II of Macedon and Alexander the Great’s era in the 4th century BCE and beyond can be visited in the Museum of the Royal Tombs of Aigai (Vergina), the Archaeological Museum of Pella, and the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki.

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About the Author

Nathalie Choubineh
Nathalie is a translator and independent researcher of dance in the ancient world with a focus on Ancient Greece and the Near East. She has published works in ancient dance, ethnomusicology, and literature. She loves learning and sharing knowledge.

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A MUSEUM FOR ALL | ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF THESSALONIKI
amth.gr
The ancient city - Archaeology in the heart of Macedonia
aigai.gr

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APA Style

Choubineh, N. (2024, October 01). Gold Ivy Wreath from Nea Apollonia, Thessaloniki. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/19497/gold-ivy-wreath-from-nea-apollonia-thessaloniki/

Chicago Style

Choubineh, Nathalie. "Gold Ivy Wreath from Nea Apollonia, Thessaloniki." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified October 01, 2024. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/19497/gold-ivy-wreath-from-nea-apollonia-thessaloniki/.

MLA Style

Choubineh, Nathalie. "Gold Ivy Wreath from Nea Apollonia, Thessaloniki." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 01 Oct 2024. Web. 21 Nov 2024.

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