Roman Times: Identifying production sites of Terracotta figurines

I found two very detailed figurines of old women (probably nurses or nannies) holding babies in the British Museum's collection of Tanagra figurines. Both figurines were bought from antiquities dealers so other than assumed to be from Tanagra, there is little known about their archaeological context.

Pale brown clay terracotta figure of an old nurse with baby 330-300 BCE made in Boeotia found in Tanagra and photographed by Mary Harrsch at the British Museum

Yellowish-brown clay terracotta figurine of a stooped old nurse wearing a sakkos holding a naked baby 300 BCE made in Attica, found in Tanagra, and photographed by Mary Harrsch at the British Museum.

Despite their similarity, I was surprised to read one is said to have been produced in Boeotia and the other in Attica. I wondered how this may have been determined and ChatGPT told me:

"Art historians use several key factors to determine whether an ancient Greek terracotta figurine originates from Boeotia, Attica, or another region. These criteria include stylistic features, production techniques, clay composition, and archaeological context:

1. Stylistic Features: Pose and Attire: Boeotian figurines, particularly those associated with Tanagra, often depict elegantly dressed figures in naturalistic poses, such as standing with one arm resting on the hip or holding a fan or wreath. Attic figurines tend to have more rigid or formalized postures.

Facial Features: Tanagra figurines typically have delicate, idealized faces with subtle expressions, while Attic examples may show more stylized or archaic features.

Themes: Boeotian terracottas often focus on everyday scenes and fashionable women, whereas Attic figurines might lean toward mythological or religious themes.

2. Production Techniques: Mold-Making: Both regions used molds for mass production, but Boeotian molds tended to create finer details, especially in the intricate folds of garments and hair arrangements.

Surface Treatment: Tanagra figurines were often coated with a white slip and painted in delicate pastel colors, such as pinks, blues, and yellows, which differ from Attic preferences for simpler painted decoration.

3. Clay Composition: Boeotian Clay: Figurines from Boeotia, including those from Tanagra, are typically made from fine, reddish-brown clay with specific mineral inclusions that differ from the orange or pale clays found in Attic workshops.

Geochemical Analysis: Modern techniques, such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) or petrography, allow scientists to analyze the clay's chemical and mineralogical composition, linking it to specific geological sources."

Both figurines appear to be coated with white slip or a wash of some type. Both had traces of red pigment although the figurine said to be from Athens had traces of rose-madder on the nurse's clothing. The Boeotian figurine is made from a pale brown clay while the Attic figurine is produced from yellowish brown clay. The curator makes a point, though, about the Attic figure as having stylized eyebrows resembling a theater mask. Perhaps that was the defining attribute. I also pointed out that the Attic figurine wears a sakkos on her head while the Boeotia figurine does not.

ChatGPT said "The sakkos, a headscarf or cap, was indeed more closely associated with Athenian fashion. Its presence on the figurine could support an Athenian origin."

The figurines were probably recovered from the very large necropolis in Tanagra possibly by French archaeologist, Théodore Reinach (1860-1928) although German, French, and Greek archaeologists also contributed to the study of Tanagra in the later 19th and 20th centuries.

I was curious if children of late 4th century BCE Greece were cremated or buried in family tombs so I asked ChatGPT about that.

ChatGPT replied:

"In late 4th century BCE Greece, burial practices for children varied depending on local customs, family status, and specific regional traditions. However, general patterns can be identified:

1. Family Tombs:

Inclusion in Family Tombs: It was common for children, like adults, to be buried in family tombs, especially in regions where family tombs were an established tradition, such as in Athens and other city-states. This practice reinforced the family’s unity and continuity, even in death.

Grave Goods for Children: Burials of children often included age-appropriate grave goods, such as toys, small vessels, and figurines, which reflected their social role and tender age.

2. Cremation Practices:

Regional Preferences: Cremation was less common in Greece than in some other cultures of the time (e.g., the Etruscans or Romans) but was practiced in certain regions, particularly for high-status individuals. Children were less frequently cremated than adults, though exceptions existed, especially in cases of epidemics or war when cremation might have been practical for hygienic reasons.

Ash Burials: If cremation was performed, the ashes were typically placed in urns and interred, often in the family tomb or a designated burial area.

3. Separate Child Graves:

Individual Burial Sites: In some cases, children were buried separately from adults, either due to beliefs about the purity of young souls or practical considerations. These burials might occur in designated areas of cemeteries or even in domestic spaces, particularly for very young children or infants.

4. Regional and Local Variations:

In Athens, family tombs (sometimes with elaborate stelai or grave markers) were common, and children were often buried alongside other family members. The presence of toys, feeding bottles (askoi), and figurines suggests a focus on commemorating their youth.

In Boeotia, smaller or simpler graves might have been used for children, though family burial traditions were also present.

In Macedonia, elaborate tombs from the late 4th century BCE sometimes included children, reflecting the wealth and status of the deceased.

5. Symbolism in Child Burials:

The treatment of a child’s burial often carried symbolic weight, reflecting beliefs about childhood, innocence, and the afterlife. The inclusion of grave goods and terracotta figurines, such as those depicting nurses or protective deities, highlights the emotional and spiritual care extended to children in death.

In summary, children in late 4th century BCE Greece were typically buried rather than cremated, often in family tombs or cemeteries. Exceptions to this pattern depended on regional customs, specific circumstances, or the family's social status."

So then I asked, "I'm assuming Tanagra figurines depicting nurses with babies were from elite child burials because nurses could not be afforded by the lower classes?"

and ChatGPT replied:

"Yes, your assumption is likely correct. Tanagra figurines depicting nurses with babies would have been associated with elite child burials, reflecting the social status and wealth of the family. The depiction of a nurse holding a child highlights several important points about the societal and cultural context of such burials:

1. Nurses as a Marker of Wealth:

Symbol of Privilege: In ancient Greece, employing a nurse (often a wet nurse) was a sign of wealth and privilege. Lower-class families would not have had the means to hire a nurse and would have cared for their children within the family unit.

Representation of Household Dynamics: The presence of a nurse figurine in a burial could symbolize the child’s status as a member of an affluent household with access to luxury and specialized care.

2. Funerary Symbolism:

Commemoration of Care: Figurines of nurses with babies likely symbolized the care and nurturing provided to the deceased child during their short life, serving as a comforting or protective image in the afterlife.

Maternal or Protective Role: The nurse might also represent the surrogate maternal figure or the family’s wish to provide ongoing care and protection for the child in death.

3. Elite Child Burials:

High-Quality Grave Goods: Child burials of the elite were often furnished with rich grave goods, including finely crafted figurines, jewelry, and imported pottery, to demonstrate the family's status and honor the child.

Use of Figurines: Tanagra figurines, known for their delicate craftsmanship and attention to detail, were particularly popular in elite contexts, making them fitting additions to prestigious child burials.

4. Socioeconomic Factors:

Affordability: While terracotta figurines were relatively inexpensive compared to other materials like marble or bronze, the complexity and artistic quality of Tanagra figurines suggest they were still considered luxury items. Their inclusion in a burial reflected both the family's wealth and their ability to commission or acquire such items.

Cultural Statements: By placing a figurine of a nurse with a baby in a child’s grave, the family could make a cultural statement about their values, wealth, and the care they provided to their children, even in death.

In conclusion, Tanagra figurines of nurses with babies likely reflected both the economic status of the family and their desire to commemorate the child’s life in a way that emphasized care, nurture, and social standing. Such items would have been rare in lower-class burials, where simpler and less ornate grave goods were the norm.

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