Vaphio, Vafio or Vapheio is an ancient site in Laconia, Greece, on the right bank of the Eurotas, some 5 mi (8.0 km) south of Sparta. It is famous for its tholos or beehive tomb, excavated in 1889 by Christos Tsountas. This consists of a walled approach, about 97 ft (30 m) long, leading to a vaulted chamber some 33 ft (10 m) in diameter, in the floor of which the actual grave was cut.[1] The tomb suffered considerable damage in the decades following its excavation.[1] During conservation work in 1962 the walls were restored to a height of about 6 m (20 ft).[2]
The main objects found there were transferred to the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, where many remain on display. Many are regarded as Minoan art, while others are thought to have been made on mainland Greece. The pottery in the tomb dates to around 1500 to 1450 BC, but the gold and carved gem seals might have been old when buried. The Cretan one of the famous pair of gold Vaphio Cups perhaps dates to the previous century.[3]
The seduced bull is tethered, on the cup thought to be CretanA charging bull tosses a human with its horns, having knocked another down and escaped the net at right. On the cup thought to be MycenaeanDrawing of the two designs
Vaphio, Vafio or Vapheio is an ancient site in Laconia, Greece, on the right bank of the Eurotas, some 5 mi (8.0 km) south of Sparta. It is famous for...
Alepotrypa cave site. Significant archaeological recovery exists at the Vaphio-tomb site in Laconia. Found there is advanced Bronze Age art as well as...
at several Neolithic sites in England. A cup found in the Greek site of Vaphio shows a hunting scene, in which people try to capture an aurochs. One of...
Heraklion Archaeological Museum The Vaphio Cups; 1675-1410 BC; gold; height: 7.8 cm, diameter: 10.7 cm; from Vaphio (Laconia, Greece); National Archaeological...
modern charm bracelets. Sinclair Hood believed that at the time of the Vaphio burial (c. 1500–1450) "it was broadly speaking possible to classify the...
and at Maskarata in Cephalonia. The richest grave of all was explored at Vaphio in Laconia in 1889, and yielded, besides many gems and miscellaneous goldsmiths'...
the Mycenaean conquest, and may not reflect earlier practices. The gold Vaphio Cups show two different methods of capturing wild bulls. Many scholars believe...
apparently treated as jewellery for women. The tholos or beehive tomb at Vaphio (or Vapheio) near Sparta is another famous find that has generated much...
Caravaca, the Minoan snake goddess figurines, the Minoan Bull-leaper, the Vaphio cups, the Da He ding, and the Shi zun 1650 BC – The Hüseyindede vases 1700...
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