Delos and the Late Hellenistic Art Trade: Archaeological Directions

A group of marble statuettes of Aphrodite, likely carved on Delos during the late second and first centuries BCE, reveals a distinct pattern of consumption centered exclusively in the eastern Mediterranean basin. This challenges long-held views that attribute the copy industry to Roman influence and demand, instead highlighting the role of local and regional Greek communities as substantial consumer constituencies. The study reconstructs the responses of Greek sculptors to the contemporary art trade by gathering these statuettes and documenting their findspots, providing new insights into artistic relations between Delos and Athens during the Late Hellenistic period.

Martens, B. (2021). Delos and the Late Hellenistic Art Trade: Archaeological Directions. American Journal of Archaeology, 125(4), 535–570. https://doi.org/10.3764/aja.125.4.0535