The Maenad of Tetovo Ne of the Most Important - and Later They Spread to the Whole Archaeological Findings in Population

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Heritage The Maenad of Tetovo ne of the most important - and later they spread to the whole archaeological findings in population. Macedonia is a small bronze Until the 3d century BC the entire area statue of a young dancing of Southern Serbia, Eastern Kosovo and woman. It is so beautiful Northern Macedonia including the Polog Oand significant that the National Bank Valley was inhabited by the northern of Macedonia decided to put it on the Paionian tribe, the Agrianians (lat. banknote of 5000 Macedonian denars Agrianes). This tribe had its own kings of issued in 1996. It also features on the which the most famous was Langarus who coat of arms of Tetovo, the town where helped the Macedonian King Alexander it was excavated. The famous Maenad of III in 335 BC in his campaign against Tetovo, 9 cm long and 4 cm wide, used the Tribales (lat. Tribaloi) to the North. to decorate a large bronze cup. Alongside Agrianians followed him also through Asia the golden masks, terracotta icons, and where they got the reputation of some of fresco paintings the Maenad of Tetovo has the most notorious fighters in many key become a trademark of Macedonian rich battles and became famous in the whole cultural heritage. The figurine represents ancient world. It was in the tomb of an a character playing and dancing with her Agrianian Prince that the Maenad was partner, a satire, in honour of the cult of the God Dionysus. The cup was used for mixing wine and water durng Dionysus rituals. The maenad dates back to the last decades of the 6th century B.C. It was the time when Greek culture exerted a strong influence on this part of the Balkans changing the way of living of the local population. It was these changes that marked the beginning of the Archaic period and the transition from the age of Prehistory to the age of History and Antiquity. On the archaeological plane these transformations are visible through the new materials, such as new types of pottery, jewellery and other handicrafts and new spiritual practices such cults of Greek gods and cremation instead of grave burial. In the beginning these practices were embraced by elites – the statuette from Tetovo was found in princely crypt

28 September 2014•www.dmwc.org.mk Heritage

excavated in 1932. The statue is now part to the sound of loud music and crashing of the Museum of Macedonia collection. cymbals, whirling, screaming, getting The tomb, actually a funeral chamber, is an drunk and inducing one another into ever impressive architectural accomplishment. higher levels of ecstasy. The goal was to The scientists have proved that the statue achieve a state of enthusiasm in which the was made in the Southern Italian Greek celebrants’ souls were temporarily freed colonies and is a proof of the intensive from their earthly bodies and were able to trade that went on in those times. It commune with Dionysus and gain a glimpse testifies to the might of the Polog princes of and thus be prepared for what they who guaranteed safety of traders from would someday experience in eternity. The around the ancient world. rite climaxed in a performance of frenzied In Greek mythology maenads were feats of strength and madness, such as female followers of Dionysus. Their name uprooting trees, tearing a bull (the symbol literally translates as «the raving ones». of Dionysus) apart with their bare hands, Often the maenads were portrayed as an act called sparagmos, and eating inspired by Dionysus into a state of its flesh raw, an act called omophagia. ecstatic frenzy, through a combination of Having symbolically eaten his body and dancing and intoxication. During these drunk his blood, the celebrants became rites, the maenads would dress in fawn possessed by Dionysus. The frolicking of skins and carry a thyrsus, a long stick maenads and Dionysus was a common wrapped in ivy or vine leaves and topped theme on Greek craters used to mix water with a pinecone. They weave ivy-wreaths and wine. And one such cup ended up in or bull helmet in honour of their god, and the treasury of the Polog Agranian Prince. often handle or wear snakes. They danced