Archaeological Evidence for Ship Eyes: An Analysis of Their Form and Function
Troy Joseph Nowak
Thesis: May 2006
Chair: Bass & Wachsmann
During the late 19th century, a number of large marble eyes were discovered near
the Athenian naval facilities at Zea. Although initially published as the eyes
of ancient Greek warships, many scholars have doubted the validity of this
attribution. A range of hypotheses have been presented in attempts both to
discredit the notion that they are ship eyes, and to re-classify these objects.
Recent excavations of a Classical Period merchantman at TektaŸ Burnu
uncovered a pair of marble discs that again raise questions relating to the
identity of the marble eyes from Zea. A review of alternative hypotheses
relating to the identity of these objects based on textual, archaeological, and
representational evidence, coupled with technical analyses of their
construction, form, and decoration, leads to the conclusion that the marble eyes
discovered at Zea, as well as the objects from TektaŸ Burnu, adorned the bows
of ancient Greek ships between the 5th and the 3rd centuries BC. Evidence for
the function of these objects is found in the works of Greek authors who show
that the eyes of ancient ships marked the presence of a supernatural
consciousness that guided the ship and helped to avoid hazards.
Studies of eye
representations on Archaic and Classical Greek domestic articles and parallels
in architectural decoration suggest that ship eyes may have also worked as
apotropaions to counter forces such as envy.
As early as the 5th century BC
Greek and Latin authors attest to a fear and understanding of envy's destructive
power, which was believed to attack through the actions of both gods and
mortals. Theories related to the use of eyes as apotropaions that could counter
envy are presented based on analysis of material from the Archaic and Classical
Periods. Links are made between Hellenistic and Roman mariners and their fear of
this force, which was expressed in their use of devices that functioned to
protect them from its ill effects. It is possible that ship eyes in ancient
Greece served as both epiphanies and apotropaions used to counter envy.