Ancient Greek

Ancient Greek Lead Tessera with Wrestlers – Palaestra / Athletic Games Hellenistic Period, circa 3rd–1st century BC 8.0 g. and 30.2 x 22.7 mm From a Private European Collection. A fascinating and extremely rare Ancient Greek lead tessera depicting two nude wrestlers engaged in a wrestling contest, facing one another in a dynamic grappling position. The scene is surrounded by a raised border. Reverse largely plain and worn. The remarkable representation belongs to one of the most characteristic subjects of Ancient Greek athletic culture. Wrestling (palē) was among the most important Greek athletic disciplines and was practised and taught in the palaestra and gymnasium. Surviving Greek works of art show pairs of nude athletes engaged in comparable wrestling holds within the palaestra. Of particular interest is the strong iconographic relationship with the celebrated wrestler coinage of Aspendos in Pamphylia, one of the most famous athletic types in Ancient Greek numismatics. From the late 5th century BC onwards, Aspendos depicted pairs of wrestlers in a remarkable variety of grappling positions, with the type becoming especially prominent throughout the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. The precise function of this lead tessera remains uncertain. Considering its athletic subject, however, an association with a palaestra, gymnasium, athletic contest or public games is an intriguing possibility. Such an object may have served as a token, admission tessera or other local marker connected with athletic or civic activities. An exceptionally interesting and very rare piece of Greek material culture, combining the world of ancient athletics with an iconography immediately reminiscent of some of the most celebrated wrestling scenes of Ancient Greek coinage. Extremely rare, a Popular collector's piece. I prove that the lot was obtained legally , provenance statement seen by Catawiki Important information. I guarantee that I am entitled to ship this lot. I will take care that any necessary permits will be arranged. I will inform the buyer about this if this takes more than a few days.

Estimate:$616.12

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