Terracotta doll
Terracotta doll
This terracotta female doll or marionette has articulated arms and legs, which were joined to the torso with string or wire and could move. This ‘toy’ is one of the rare finds that shed light on the world of children and of play in antiquity. Jointed dolls are frequently found inchild graves, while relevant representations of children holding similar objects are encountered on grave stelai, especially in Attica. These figurines also had a cultic function, as is attested by their discovery in sanctuaries. In all probability they were associated with the worship of deities of marriage, since it is known that nubile girls dedicated their playthings to guardian goddesses of wedlock before coming of age or before their nuptials.
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Scenes from Daily Life in Antiquity
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