Figure of a comic actor as a slave with a baby at The British Museum, London

This is part of a series of terracottas dating from the archaic period. The earliest in this collection are fairly simple and hand-modelled; the latest are elaborate pieces, produced from several moulds. In the archaic period, Boeotia, especially Tanagra, pioneered the development of new terracotta types, styles and techniques. In the classical and Hellenistic periods, fine terracottas were also made in Corinth, Athens and elsewhere. The mainland Greek 'Tanagra' style, originating at Athens, was to spread throughout the Hellenistic world. Most of the terracottas shown here were found in tombs, where they served as offerings to the gods of the udnerworld or as comfort for the dead. Similar figurines were also dedicated in sanctuaries, or, in later times, used to decorate the home. Unless stated otherwise, all terracottas in this series were made in one or more moulds.本数据集为一批古风时期赤陶塑像系列的组成部分。本系列中年代最早的塑像造型质朴，均为手工捏制；年代最晚的则工艺繁复，通过多块模具翻制而成。古风时期，玻俄提亚（Boeotia）地区，尤其是塔纳格拉（Tanagra），率先开创了新型赤陶塑像的类型、风格与制作工艺。古典时期与希腊化时期，科林斯（Corinth）、雅典（Athens）等地也生产精美赤陶塑像。源自雅典的希腊本土“塔纳格拉风格”，随后传遍整个希腊化世界。本次展示的绝大多数赤陶塑像均出土于墓葬之中，或作为献给冥界诸神的供品，或用以慰藉逝者亡灵。类似的小塑像也会被供奉于圣所之中，后世则多用于家居装饰。除非另有说明，本系列所有赤陶塑像均通过单块或多块模具制作而成。