Locus Ludi database: The Kottabos in the Greek World

Locus Ludi database: The Kottabos in the Greek World

Also known as: Locus Ludi

This research is part of the ERC Advanced grant project Locus Ludi (no. 741520), which intends to provide a benchmark by reconstructing the history of the ludic culture in the Greco-Roman world. The kottabos game, held at the end of the symposion, was an important moment of conviviality where the wine consumption plays a central role. Play of skills and dexterity it consists of throwing the last drop of wine from the cup towards a predetermined target. Representations of kottabos have been documented between the 6th and 3rd centuries B.C. on a wide variety of materials and media (figured pottery, mirrors, gems, reliefs, figurines, coins, funerary paintings) from various chrono-cultural areas, from Greece to the shores of Italy. This database compiles basic informations about known representations of the kottabos game on South Italian pottery, produced and distributed both in Greek and indigenous settlements. It includes short descriptions, images and links to other reference databases. The images of the objects are accessible online if the owning institution has given us permission for diffusion.

Abstract

The database makes an extensive collection of representation of kottabos on South Italian pottery. The ontology of the database includes five main classes (object, scene, museum, artist and photo) to describe, contextualize and illustrate the vase. Each of five classes contains properties using different criteria (e.g. material, technique, production center, description, attribution, dating, discovery place, location, bibliography and photo credits).

Publications

Attia, A., Delahaye, A., Le jeu du kottabos. Guide illustré, Collection Locus Ludi, Darmstadt, WBG/Mainz, Ph. von Zabern, in preparation (2024).
Attia, A., Vespa, M., “The Kottabos. Material Play and Cultural Representations”, in V. Dasen, M. Vespa (eds), The Cambridge Handbook of Ancient Play and Games, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, , in preparation (2024).
Attia, A., “Jouer au banquet : le kottabe au féminin en Grande Grèce”, in M.-L., Arnette, V. Dasen (eds), Joueuses ! Clio. Femmes, genre, histoire, 56, 2022, 187-197. https://www.cairn.info/revue-clio-femmes-genre-histoire-2022-2-page-187.htm
Attia, A., Delahaye, A., “Vertiges du banquet : jeux d’habilité et d’équilibre au symposion“, in V. Dasen and T. Haziza (eds.), Dossier thématique Jeux, normes et transgressions, Kentron. Revue pluridisciplinaire du monde antique, 36, 2021, 29-66. https://journals.openedition.org/kentron/4415

Cite this Project

Citation

Attia (2024). Kottabos in the Greek World (2024). DaSCH, https://ark.dasch.swiss/ark:/72163/1/0847.

Data Access

Access Rights
Full Open Access
License
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
(2023-12-04)

Copyright

Locus Ludi database: The Kottabos in the Greek World

Contact

Post-doc researcher
University of Fribourg, ERC Locus Ludi
alexandra.attia@unifr.ch

Project Timeline

Period
2017-10-01 – 2023-09-30
Status
Finished

Funding

Grants
European Research Council
Grant: 741520
ERC Advanced grant
More info
Data Management Plan
Not accessible