Ta Attika

This exhibition catalogue investigates the import and reception of Attic figured pottery in the ancient Greek colony of Gela, Sicily, during the sixth and fifth centuries BC. By reuniting hundreds of black-figure and red-figure vessels originally excavated from Geloan necropolises and sanctuaries—many of which were dispersed to international museum collections following nineteenth-century illicit excavations—the publication constructs a comprehensive database analyzing trade networks, workshop distributions, and local socio-cultural preferences. Multi-disciplinary essays examine vase shapes, iconography, and chronological fluctuations in import volumes, alongside contextual analyses of grave goods and sanctuary deposits. The findings demonstrate Gela's pivotal role as a commercial hub in the Mediterranean market and highlight the cultural affinity of its elites for Athenian craftsmanship. Ultimately, the volume illustrates how the influx of Attic ceramics shaped regional artistic production and fostered the emergence of a distinct early Siceliote pottery tradition.