Saturday Matinee at the Maritime Museum Piran
On 7 June 2025, at the conclusion of the inter-museal exhibition Heritage and the Power of Myths - Material Culture and Its Interpretation through Myths and Narratives, the Maritime Museum Piran organized a Saturday matinee with two presentations and a creative ceramics workshop.
The introductory part commenced with Snježana Karinja, the archaeologist employed by the Maritime Museum Piran. She presented the gods and goddesses of Olympus, their characteristics and attributes, with special emphasis on the myth of the goddess Athena, and through various depictions on artefacts held by museums around the entire world. She spoke about the birth of Athena who as an adult, fully armed, popped out of the head of her father Zeus, and about the symbolism hidden in this scene. Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, art, military discipline and protector of cities and crafts, is often portrayed with an owl and Nike, the goddess of victory. Her attributes are generally an aegis with Medusa’s head, a helmet and a spear. Zeus respected her infinitely and almost no significant event - either in the divine or heroic domain - transpired without her presence. In mythology, she was an indispensable assistant to numerous heroes, such as Heracles, Jason and Odysseus.
Miha Mlinar, archaeologist from the Tolmin Museum, presented prestigious ancient Greek and other Eastern Mediterranean artefacts that reached the Soča valley along various trade routes during the 7th and 5th centuries BC. This concerns predominantly earthenware and, to a minor extent, exquisite glass bowls and beads. Among the archaeological sites in Slovenia boasting most finds of ancient Greek ceramics, Most na Soči prevails. Here, archaeologists have discovered no less than two Ionic kylixes, two skyphoi of Attic production and two oinochoes. All of the above-mentioned earthenware, except for the Attic owl skyphos of the Saint Valentine type from the 2nd half of the 5th century BC that was discovered in the settlement, originate from cremation Iron Age graves in a graveyard on the left bank of the Idrijca River. The finds demonstrate the exceptional position of this site within the network of Iron Age centres in the southeastern Alpine region.
The matinee was followed by a highly interesting creative ceramics workshop organized by Veronika Bjelica. The adult matinee’s participants were joined by two girls. The theme of this workshop was the owl skyphos - a bowl made by us, inspired by the find from the Tolmin Museum. In contrast to the original, which was made on a potter's wheel, we used the pinch technique. We were acquainted with the basics of clay shaping, material preparation, the procedures of drying, treatment and the use of various tools and tricks, such as hardening handles with snakes. We also had a discussion about the engobe and other painting techniques. Finally, we drew the motif of an owl and olive tree on the bowls - some drew it on one side, others on both sides - and had quite some fun doing it.
The workshop was skilfully led by Barbara Gogala from Čaj za 2 keramika (Tea For 2 Ceramics) and Tina Flego from the Gaia Forms Studio. Under their professional and stimulative guidance, we all created our own unique owl skyphoi that we shall of course return to the participants after dried, additionally processed and baked. The workshop with them was something very special indeed - we are ardently waiting for the next one!
