The San Sosti Axe-Head is an ancient bronze head of an

axe An axe ( sometimes ax in American English; see spelling differences) is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood, to harvest timber, as a weapon, and as a ceremonial or heraldic symbol. The axe has ma ...

that was originally found near the town of

San Sosti San Sosti ( Calabrian: ; from ) is a ''comune'' in the province of Cosenza, in Calabria, southern Italy. History A highly decorated bronze axe-head was discovered near San Sosti in 1846. This votive offering was later bought by the collector a ...

, in the province of Cosenza in Calabria, southern Italy. Based on its

Ancient Greek Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic p ...

inscription, it is now considered to be an elaborately crafted

votive offering A votive offering or votive deposit is one or more objects displayed or deposited, without the intention of recovery or use, in a sacred place for religious purposes. Such items are a feature of modern and ancient societies and are generally ...

to the gods.

Provenance

The axe-head was discovered near San Sosti, Calabria in 1846. It was probably made in

Sybaris Sybaris ( grc, Σύβαρις; it, Sibari) was an important city of Magna Graecia. It was situated in modern Calabria, in southern Italy, between two rivers, the Crathis (Crati) and the Sybaris (Coscile). The city was founded in 720 BC ...

nearby, which had a long history of producing luxury items for affluent clientele. After being uncovered, this ornate object was later bought by the collector and goldsmith Alessandro Castellani, from whom it was eventually acquired by the

British Museum The British Museum is a public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence. It docum ...

in 1884.British Museum Collection
/ref>

Description

The cast bronze wedge-shaped axe-head is elaborately decorated with what seems to be a winged

sphinx A sphinx ( , grc, σφίγξ , Boeotian: , plural sphinxes or sphinges) is a mythical creature with the head of a human, the body of a lion, and the wings of a falcon. In Greek tradition, the sphinx has the head of a woman, the haunches of ...

on the front as well as

palmette The palmette is a motif in decorative art which, in its most characteristic expression, resembles the fan-shaped leaves of a palm tree. It has a far-reaching history, originating in ancient Egypt with a subsequent development through the art o ...

s and

volute A volute is a spiral, scroll-like ornament that forms the basis of the Ionic order, found in the capital of the Ionic column. It was later incorporated into Corinthian order and Composite column capitals. Four are normally to be found on an Ion ...

s. On the blade of the axe is inscribed an important dedication in the Achaean dialect of

that can be dated to the sixth century BC, which translates as: ''I am the sacred property of Hera-in-the-Plain: Kyniskos the

butcher A butcher is a person who may slaughter animals, dress their flesh, sell their meat, or participate within any combination of these three tasks. They may prepare standard cuts of meat and poultry for sale in retail or wholesale food establishm ...

dedicated me, a

tithe A tithe (; from Old English: ''teogoþa'' "tenth") is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash or cheques or more ...

from his works.'' Scholars have been unable to determine the location of Hera-in-the Plain, although the inscription clearly indicates the wealth and aspirations of its dedicator.

References

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Provenance

Description

References

Further reading