I am in the initial stages of sorting out a large deposit of figurines (mostly Hellenistic and Roman) from the Sanctuary of the Great Gods on Samothrace. Many of them depict hydriaphoroi, and I have begun to try to track down the appearance of this figurine type elsewhere. I have found them in many sanctuary/votive contexts, but not yet in any grave contexts. Does anyone know offhand whether hydriaphoroi are regularly (or even irregularly) found in graves?

Thanks,
Sheila Dillon
sheila.dillon@duke.edu

For my Master’s dissertation at Reading University I am studying a group of clay figurines representing saccarii:porters with a sack/bundle of cloth slung over their shoulder; holding it with their hands and their knees slightly bent in the effort with their right leg put forward. The clay saccarii are dressed in a short tunic tightened around the waist with a thick belt and a cloth hangs from their left shoulder. The facial features vary from bulging eyes, chubby cheeks which frame a small mouth with protruding lips to wide eyes, broad nose and thick lips. A band covers their hair.
     The largest number comes from Ostia, near Rome (photos by the author) but others have been found in the Tiber river bed, in Luni and in Pompeii. Five clay porters are part of collections in Rome (Musei Vaticani), in Berlin and in Paris (Louvre).
     I would be very grateful to know whether anyone has come across clay figurines of this type during his/her studies/excavations. It would also be very helpful to have any opinions about their function.
Kind Regards,
Elena Martelli

I am interested in any information relevant to this figurine found at the Sanctuary of Demeter and Persephone at Cyrene, Libya. Fabric is pale yellow to buff, hard, and rather fine. Hands cup the breasts, and the surface is covered with an inscised stippling that also marks bracelets, a necklace, and a belt, or the waist. Please respond to uhlenbrj@newpaltz.edu if you have any information for me.
Thanks