Melian reliefs

Melian Melian reliefs or clay reliefs, is a genus of thin clay tiles called that are 11 × 14 cm tall on average, and point to the front of a relief that was formed in a die.

There are up to today around 110 copies, most of which were found on the Greek island of Milos. They are therefore named after this island. Other localities ranging from Sicily to Asia Minor. The reliefs were once painted and dated to the 5th century BC, your former purpose is unclear. They usually have holes, so were nailed to other objects. Maybe they once adorned furniture. Their distribution shows that they were happy to be exported.

They show a wide range of designs. There are scenes of everyday life and scenes from Greek mythology, where the Olympian deities played a minor role. Good evidence are Bellerophon, Perseus and the Medusa, popular are the Iliad and the Odyssey. The reliefs vary greatly in style and quality. They show little plasticity. Your production ended around 420 BC This may be joined to the year 416 BC. This year, the entire population was eliminated in the course of the Peloponnesian War by Milos by the Athenians, the men murdered, enslaved the rest.