A Móra Ferenc Múzeum Évkönyve, 1978/79-1. (Szeged, 1980)
Hegedűs, Katalin: Two New Enthroned Idols from Szegvár-Tűzköves
The seated goddess of Battonya —Gödrösök 15 may typologically represent a transition between the slab-like idols of the AVK(Linear Pottery Culture of the Hungarian Plain) and the full blown statue series of the Tisza cultures. Another such figurine is known from Szentes— Ilonapart and is now through nebulous factors in exhibition in the Leiden Museum. 16 Only a 10 cm high solid, slab-like idol torso remains. The nipples are exposed; however the remainder of the chest is covered by an incised pattern of geometric designs which might represent a ceremonial dress. Similar modes of indicating clothing are to be found among the idols and anthropomorphic vessels of both the Szakáihát 17 and the Tisza cultures, 18 furher underscoring the relationship between the two. One final example of the above is the latest enthroned god from Szegvár—Tűzköves found in 1978 at a depth of 110 cm. (Plate 3.) 19 This solid statue has a reconstructed height of about 10 cm. The maleness of the figure is indicated directly by its sexual organ and indirectly by its nudity. Notwithstanding the imitation of a spondylus armband on the left arm and a coiled bracelet on the right wrist. The presence of nipples does not contradict its assignation for obvious reasons. Aside from the headless trunk the right leg and the right side panel of the throne are preserved. The entire statuette exhibits scanty remains of crusted red paint. As a whole it represents an ingenious combination of a slab-like statue and a vessel, that is, in side view it appears as a person carrying a container on its back. This unique form further brings to mind the long standing debate between Prof. Banner and J. Csalog on the interpretation of the Venus no. I. from Hódmezővásárhely—Kökénydomb. 20 Although it must be said that we disagree with the accusative tone of Csalog's attack on Banner's reconstruction, this new idol tips the scale in favour of Csalog's interpretation. The discovery of the sickle-bearing god in 1956 together with the absence of the crucial part of the Kökénydomb Venus led Csalog to beleivé that the anthropomorphic vessel originally had a head. Specificaly he reasoned that the slighly upturned and increasingly thick rim ended in a neck. The total number of male figurines from Szegvár—Tüzköves then is three, the latest find inclusive. If we take into account three other finds from the site which are not statues although most certainly represent males, then the total number is six. One of these is an altar which bears two varied faces, this variation leads J. Korek 21 to believe that they reflect a male-female dichotomy. The fifth male is displayed as a Tiszavidék korai neolitikumához. Manuscript. 1976. 77.) we donot have any seated figurines of this early date. /. Makay has published a seated deity from Bicske a site is the Linear Pottery Culture in Transdanubia; Excavations at Bicske. Alba Regia XVI. 26. Fig. 6. 15 G. Szénánszky, J., A szakáiháti csoport idoltöredéke Battonyáról. Arch Ért (1977) No. 2. 216—220. 16 Horváth, L., A Szentes Ilonaparti neolitikus telep. Manuscript (1979). Chapter V. 92—98. Thanks to L. Horváth for the use of his data. 17 Aside from the Ilonapart idol a cylindrical anthropomorph vessel is known from BattonyaGödrösök the surface of which is covered by a similar decoration: Goldman, Gy., Gesichtsgefässe und andere Menschendarstellungen aus Battonya BMMK 5 (1978) 13—60. Plate VII. 2a-b. 18 Csalog, J., Prähistorische Idolkunst... (1973) 20—23. Plate 17—18—19. 19 Inv. number: KJM 80. 3. 609. 1—3. 20 /. Csalog's reconstruction first appeared in Folia Arch. 7. (1955) 23-.See also in Acta. Arch. Hung. XI. (1959) Fig.6/ 3, while /. Banner's response can be found in Germania 37 (1959) 14—35.The title of his article: Anthropomorphe Gefässe der Teiss-Kultur von der Siedlung bei Hódmezővásárhely (Ungarn). /. Korek was also against Csalog's reconstruction: Folia Arch. 11. (1959) 21 21 Korek, J., Tiszai kultúra. Manuscript. 1973. 355. 293
