Melian reliefs
Encyclopedia
Melian Reliefs were produced on the island of Milos
from about 470 to 416 BC. Most of them were found on this island. They share the same technical features, with a shallow relief, not higher than 1.5 cm and a flat back. Details were once painted, but the paint is now most often gone. They show most often narrative subjects from Greek mythology. They were perhaps made for wooden boxes providing an inexpensive imitation for reliefs made in more expensive materials, such as ivory. Many of them show holes for an attachment.
In 416 BC Milos was ransacked by Athens
in the Peloponnesian War
. The population was sold into slavery
. This is most likely the end of the production of the Melian reliefs.
Milos
Milos , is a volcanic Greek island in the Aegean Sea, just north of the Sea of Crete...
from about 470 to 416 BC. Most of them were found on this island. They share the same technical features, with a shallow relief, not higher than 1.5 cm and a flat back. Details were once painted, but the paint is now most often gone. They show most often narrative subjects from Greek mythology. They were perhaps made for wooden boxes providing an inexpensive imitation for reliefs made in more expensive materials, such as ivory. Many of them show holes for an attachment.
In 416 BC Milos was ransacked by Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
in the Peloponnesian War
Peloponnesian War
The Peloponnesian War, 431 to 404 BC, was an ancient Greek war fought by Athens and its empire against the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta. Historians have traditionally divided the war into three phases...
. The population was sold into slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
. This is most likely the end of the production of the Melian reliefs.