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Cyclades Islands | Santorini

Thera Wall Paintings Copies P. Nomikos Museum

The life-sized three-dimensional wall-paintings reproduced and exhibited here were sponsored by the "Thera Foundation, Petros M. Nomikos", and produced in France by Transfer Relief SA, using the Kodak Pathé process. Other similar Kodak Pathé commissions have been funded by the Getty Museum of California and the French government for the Egyptian tomb of Sennefer and the Lascaux Caves, respectively.

The manufacturing of these images involved a long, complex, and laborious process which necessitated the transfer of photographic emulsions onto a synthetic substrate that exactly replicates that of the original wall-painting plaster. This substrate was generated from a stereo-photogram of the original wall-painting in much that same way satellite imagery is used to render computerized topography in 3D.

Following the completion of the substrate, the photographic emulsion was then bonded to create the wall-paintings presented in the museum and shown in this album. Each image in the museum is rendered in a 1/1 scale, and has been stereo photographed using 20x25 cm. negatives so as to reduce peripheral image distortion and provide the very highest resolution. The results are exceptionally realistic and accurate, and this exhibition in Fira remains the only place where one can view, enjoy and study all of the wall-paintings of Thera.

For more detailed information about the technical and artistic aspects of the wall-paintings restoration please consult The Petros Nomikos Museum of Wall-Paintings of Akrotiri : A detailed reference for the inquisitive traveller.

Photos: Michael Tziotis

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Click on any of the pictures to enlarge.

West House Wall-Paintings

The West House is a large six-roomed detached building located in the north-western corner of the excavation; it abuts a large triangular public area. Rising two floors above the piazza (square), the northern ground floor entrance of the building provided everyday access to the living areas of the house and the storage facilities.

In room 5 archaeologists uncovered the three nail-paintings, the “Two Fishermen” and the “Young Priestess”. Running along all four walls of the room was the “Miniature Frieze”, which, in this album, has been allocated a page of its own.

On the walls of room 4 were painted eight large scale representations of Ikria, the box like animal hide structures placed on the sterns of Theran ships depicted in the “Miniature Frieze”. In addition, the northern and southern jambs of the window of this room were embellished with the Hall-paintings of “Flower Vases”. In the lower zones of the walls of rooms 4 and 5 were examples of imitation marbling, similar to what is produced today.


West House Plan

West House Plan
“Young Priestess”

“Young Priestess”


West House, Room 5, South East portal, East door jamb H. 1.51 / W. 0,35 m.

A young female figure wearing a long robe is depicted as if she is about to enter room 5. Her head is almost entirely shaven (blue) and crowned with a snake-like band; her lips and ears are painted in red. In her left hand, she holds a fire-box which appears to be lit and, with her right hand, she adds incense to the fire.

The most striking element of this wall-painting is the yellow-reddish saffron color of her robe. Saffron, as a coloring agent, was used throughout antiquity as a clothing dye. Such garments were normally reserved for people of high status. Saffron was probably derived locally and is an enduring theme and color throughout the wall-paintings.
“Young Priestess”

“Young Priestess”


West House, Room 5, South East portal, East door jamb H. 1.51 / W. 0,35 m.
“Young Priestess” (Detail)

“Young Priestess” (Detail)


West House, Room 5, South East portal, East door jamb H. 1.51 / W. 0,35 m.
“Young Priestess” (Detail)

“Young Priestess” (Detail)
“Young Priestess” (Waist-down)

“Young Priestess” (Waist-down)


West House, Room 5, South East portal, East door jamb H. 1.51 / W. 0,35 m.
“Fisherman”

“Fisherman”


West House, Room 5. North wall, H. 1.22 / W. 0.69 m

The wall-painting depicts a young nude figure, male, with his head and legs in full profile. His chest, however, is presented in a full frontal pose while his abdomen and hips twist from profile to a three-quarter frontal position. The man’s head is painted blue, except for two black tresses, implying a partially shaven head.

The figure's arms are extended away from his torso, presenting seven fish in his right hand and five in his left. The shape, size, and colors used to depict the fish indicate dolphin-fish, Coryphaena hippurus, also known as Mahi-Mahi. Like the fish in the wall-painting, the Mahi-Mahi have characteristic black fins, yellow bellies, and blue backs.

The excellent condition of this wall-painting can be attributed to the manner in which it was found, resting on a bed of pumice stone. Archaeologists believe that the fresco slipped from the wall during tremors prior to the eruption and was thus preserved.
“Fisherman”

“Fisherman”


West House, Room 5, West wall. H. 1.22 / W. 0.57 m.

Found in the same room as the other fisherman, this fisherman is decorated in a similar manner, with a blue shaved head and two tresses. This wall-painting depicts a young male, nude, in full profile; no attempt is made by the subject to engage the viewer with a frontal pose.

The fisherman holds three fish; their shape, size, and colors indicate them to be mackerel, Scomber Scombrus. Like the fish in the wall-painting, the mackerel have a characteristic fin structure, white bellies, and blue shiny backs.

Even though this wall-painting is poorly preserved, the surviving fragments are sufficient for restorers to accurately reconstruct and extrapolate the original image.
“Fisherman” (Detail)

“Fisherman” (Detail)


West House, Room 5, West wall. H. 1.22 / W. 0.57 m
“Flower Vases”

“Flower Vases”


West House Room 4, Window, North jumb, H. 0.80 /W. 0.45 m. South jumb, H. 0.S5 / W. 0.39 m.

The window of room 4 was also embellished with wall-paintings. A frame of vertical red bands was painted on each of the window's jambs. In each of these frames was painted a single two-handled imitation marble vase, each holding five blue stems of lily blossoms. Here we show one of the two vases.
West House, Room 4 Wall-Painting Decoration

West House, Room 4 Wall-Painting Decoration


“Ikrion”: Room 4b. West wall, H. 1.90 W. 1.02 m.
“Half Ikrion”: Room 4. East wall, H. 1.80 / W. 0.50 m.
“Two Ikria”: Room 4, North wall, H. 1.96 / W. 2.14 m.
“Two Ikria”: Room 4, South wall, H. 1.80 W. 2.12 m.
“Ikrion”: Room 4, East wall, H. 1.80 W. 0.50 m.
“Ikrion”: Room 4. West wall, H. 1.95 / W. 1.98 m.


Room 4 contained large-scale representations of the cabin-like structures (Ikria) found on the ships in the “Miniature Frieze” of room 5.

From the pictorial depictions of Ikria, we assume them to be light constructions made out of wooden frames half-covered with ox skin. Located at the stern of the vessels depicted in the “Miniature Frieze” these structures are likely to have been used to protect the captain and the team who controlled the stern rudder-gear.

Also important to observe is the variety of colors, shapes, and motifs used by the painter. A possible interpretation is that each symbol, image, or combination thereof might represent a form of heraldry distinct to the captains who were part of this expedition. This decorative vocabulary can best be seen on the vessels depicted in the “Miniature Frieze”.
“Ikrion”

“Ikrion”


Room 4b. West wall, H. 1.90 W. 1.02 m.
“Half Ikrion”

“Half Ikrion”


Room 4. East wall, H. 1.80 / W. 0.50 m
“Two Ikria”

“Two Ikria”


Room 4, North wall, H. 1.96 / W. 2.14 m.
“Two Ikria”

“Two Ikria”


Room 4, South wall, H. 1.80 W. 2.12 m.
“Ikrion”

“Ikrion”


Room 4, West wall, H. 1.95 W. 1.98 m
“Ikrion”

“Ikrion”


Room 4. West wall, H. 1.95 / W. 1.98 m.
Imitation Marbling

Imitation Marbling


West House, Rooms 4 and 5, under the "Ikria" wall-paintings. This photo is to be seen together with the one above.

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