Ninnion Pinax

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Ninion-Pinax from Eleusis depicting the Mysteries (National Archaeological Museum, Athens)

The Ninnion pinax was discovered in Eleusis in 1895 . The ancient clay tablet is painted with three red-figure vase paintings, which have scenes from the Mysteries of Eleusis as the theme. The original is on display in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens , while a copy can be seen in the Museum of Eleusis.

The excellently preserved clay tablet ( Pinax ) bears the name of a woman named Ninnion, because this pious woman donated this tablet to “the two goddesses”: ΝΙΝΝΙΟΝ ΤΟΙΝ ΘΕΟΙΝ ΑΝΕΘΗΚΕ . It is framed on both sides, while the upper end is shaped in the form of a gable with acroterion .

The panel depicts three scenes with Greek deities and human beings. People are shown on a smaller scale in relation to the deities present, as was customary in ancient votive art.

  • The upper scene shows a young man, possibly the personification of the river Kephisos , while he celebrates the feast of Pannychi .
  • The central scene in the middle is moved to the month of Boëdromion . The pious woman Ninnion and her bearded companion take part in the mysteries in Eleusis and make a pilgrimage in front of the fertility goddess Demeter , who is shown on the right. An important location-defining detail in this sequence of images seems to be the Doric capital and column on the left, because it is supposed to represent the temple in Eleusis.
  • The bottom image sequence finally describes a scene from the spring ceremonies in the month of Anthesterion , as can be seen from the tree blossoms and the light clothing Ninnion is wearing. In the middle of the scene an omphalos can be seen, while to the right of it the underworld goddess Persephone is shown accompanied by three pilgrims.

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