Between 520-500 BC, artisans of Magna Graecia left us a unique masterpiece: the Antefix of Hera - an architectural ornament used to decorate the roofs of ancient Greek temples, specifically found in Magna Graecia (Southern Italy)…..
This extraordinary find, used to decorate the roofs of temples, is much more than an architectural element. It represents a journey through time, between fashion, art and ancient symbols. It is a masterpiece crafted by artisans of the Illyrian civilization, a group of Indo-European-speaking peoples who inhabited western Balkans.
The female figure depicted wears a tight blouse, an unusual garment for the time, decorated with geometric patterns with squares and black swastikas. The swastika symbols visible on the artifact were common decorative motifs in ancient art across various cultures, including Greek and Illyrian, long before their modern association. The swastika, today linked to a dramatic story, actually has much older origins and a completely different meaning. Derived from the Sanskrit "svastika", it was a symbol of well-being, luck and prosperity, used in many cultures of the ancient world.
This masterpiece not only testifies to the artistic refinement of Greek artisans, but invites us to reflect on the evolution of symbols over time. What remains of their original meanings?
Hera was the queen of the Olympian gods and the goddess of marriage in ancient Greek religion, with whom this artifact is associated. The Antefix of Hera is a window onto the past, an example of how ancient art can still speak to modern man today, revealing not only aesthetics, but also cultural and symbolic complexity.
Paestum Museum
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