Astragalomania - by Barbara Carè (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The book focuses on the interpretation of astragals, frequently unearthed in archaeological contexts and generally considered as plays, according to an established methodological approach, almost exclusively connected to children. The volume contains a collection of original papers offering different perspectives in exploring this class of evidence and illuminating a range of other important themes related to these finds. An introduction, written by the editor, will outline the status of research, the current debate on astragals and challenge the traditional established tradition. A few articles will cast light on the actual and symbolic purposes of these objects in the ancient Greek world, in a wide chronological and geographical range; a further section, in a chronologically-ordered sequence, will highlight case studies from archaeological contexts in the ancient Mediterranean (from the Late Bronze Age to the Roman times). The aim is to demonstrate the potential from a contextual analysis of these finds. In this perspective, the publication represents a fundamental step in investigating this field, filling a gap in archaeological studies and providing clear evidence of both the complexity and ambiguity of ancient ritual customs in relation to knucklebones.

From the Back Cover

The occurrence of astragali in archaeological contexts has been rarely explored in detail; up to date a simplistic approach, focusing mainly on the gaming purpose, has affected the study and debate of the material evidence and has limited the range of the research questions. For the first time, this volume brings together the works of many scholars who have variously studied astragals: mostly unpublished or little known literary, epigraphic, iconographical and archaeological evidence, aiming to cast new light on the multiple values of the knuckle-bones in the ancient Greek world.

About the Author

Barbara Carè, Italian School of Archaeology at Athens, Greece.