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July 13, 2008
An Eye On Οφθαλμοι
Jim West calls our attention to an Οφθαλμος found at the Yvne-Yam antiquities site next to Palmachim beach, south of Tel-Aviv. These ship eyes are abnormally interesting. I found a rather recent, 2006, MA thesis by Troy Nowak on the subject. I am not competent to judge Nowak's thesis but where there is contact with the Israel National News article announcing the recent find, the two seem to be in accord.
The article mentions depictions of ship bows with Οφθαλμοι on ancient pottery and coins. Nowak gives examples of both. Here is such a depiction from a Late Geometric II pot.
You can find it as Fig 3.10 C on page 91 of Nowak's theist. This drawing comes from an earlier time than the artifact from Yvne-Yam.
Nowak, 82, also cites a second century CE Onomasticon that reads "The part above the prow is named the akrostolion, the ptychis, and the ophthalmos; it is where they inscribe the name of the ship.” He, 83, also cites a number of interesting observations from the 4th century BCE. Here is one of them,
[α]υτη σκευος εχει ουθεν, ουθ οι οφθαλμοι ενεισιν.
"This ship has no gear and does not even have eyes."
It is clear that this the tradition of ships having eyes had a long life span.
Posted by Duane Smith at July 13, 2008 1:49 PM | Read more on Archaeology |
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