site.btaNew Book Explores Red-Figure Pottery from the Necropolis of Ancient Apollonia Pontica

A collection of 103 painted vessels, unearthed during 1990s excavations at the necropolis of ancient Apollonia Pontica (modern-day Sozopol, on the Black Sea), is the focus of a new book by Lyubava Konova, organizers from the National Museum of History said here on Thursday. The volume, titled Red-Figure Pottery from the Necropolis of Apollonia Pontica (Sozopol) from the Collection of the National Museum of History, will be presented at a book launch on November 27 at the museum.

The Museum describes the book as the culmination of years of research by its team, providing a comprehensive analysis of the ceramic forms and their richly detailed imagery. The vessels are examined within their archaeological and cultural-historical contexts, shedding light on their roles in burial rituals and the symbolic representation of mythological themes, divine realms, and associated ceremonies.

The vessels, crafted in classical Athens during the 5th to 4th centuries BC, serve as a window into Athenian society, conveying societal values through their narrative depictions, akin to the storytelling of theatrical performances. At the same time, they reflect the unique identity and worldview of the multicultural community in Apollonia Pontica. This coastal Black Sea city was deeply influenced by interactions with Mediterranean centers, the inland Thracian populace, and the powerful Thracian kingdoms of the region.

The book not only highlights the artistic and cultural significance of the pottery but also underscores Apollonia Pontica's role as a crossroads of cultures, offering a vivid portrait of its ancient community, the organizers said.