Archaeology of Music and Dance Performances in Cave Shrines: Terracotta Figurines as Votive Gifts

Abstract

This paper examines terracotta figurines depicting musical and choral performances, discovered in sanctuaries associated with springs and water sources in Magna Graecia and Sicily, where caves have been utilized for ritual purposes since prehistory. Notably, the Classical and Hellenistic periods witnessed a surge in the use of caves as shrines dedicated to the cult of the Nymphs, chthonic deities linked to female rites of passage. As evidenced by finds from sites such as the Grotta Caruso in Locri, these sanctuaries, characterized by their liminality and access to water sources, were intrinsically connected to music and dance. The terracotta figurines from these sites illuminate the integral role of music and sound in rites of initiation, nuptial ceremonies, and social transformation rituals. It is proposed that these figurines served not only as votive offerings but also as ritual objects, embodying and demonstrating appropriate ceremonial actions. Through an analysis of the architectural features of these cave sanctuaries and the iconography of the figurines, this study reconstructs the key phases and settings of these sonorous rituals, highlighting the sensory and performative dimensions of ancient musical and choral practices.