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Scraper (strigil)
Greek
Late Classical or Early Hellenistic Period
about 350–290 B.C.
Place of Manufacture: South Italy, Apulia or Campania
Medium/Technique
Bronze
Dimensions
Length: 27 cm (10 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
Museum purchase with funds donated by contribution
Accession Number01.7478
CollectionsAncient Greece and Rome
ClassificationsTools and equipment – Recreational
Catalogue Raisonné
Greek, Etruscan, & Roman Bronzes (MFA), no. 612; Sculpture in Stone and Bronze (MFA), p. 126 (additional published references).
DescriptionThe front of the strigil handle is decorated with incised lines in a floral motif, while the back is in the form of a tree stem. On the reverse of the front part there is a stamped inscription in Greek "of (or by) Apollodoros" (retrograde). The handle has been joined to the scraper. Although a practical object, and one that frequently must have become quite dirty, this trigil is incised with a beautiful vine motif on the handle. The strigil may have belonged to an athlte named Apollodoros.
Condtion: The patina of the former is dark green and the latter more blue.
Condtion: The patina of the former is dark green and the latter more blue.
Inscriptions"of (or by) Apollodoros"
ΑΠΟΛΛΟ[Δ]ΩΡΩ
in retrograde
ΑΠΟΛΛΟ[Δ]ΩΡΩ
in retrograde
ProvenanceBy date unknown: with Edward Perry Warren (according to Warren's records: bought from Ready: from Hoffmann: from Stevens of Naples: from Cumae); purchased by MFA from Edward Perry Warren, December 1901