Dancing around the Goddess’ Dress

This paper investigates the representation of dance and musical performances depicted on the attire of female deities, focusing on the ‘Sybaris Goddess’ figurines from Francavilla Marittima. Dating to 650–640 BC, these terracotta pinakes depict a cult statue wearing an embroidered robe featuring choral dancers. By integrating archaeological evidence with literary sources, the study explores how these images reflect sacred rituals, such as processions and coming-of-age ceremonies linked to weaving activities. Furthermore, the presence of bronze ‘sonic elements’ found in sanctuary contexts suggests the creation of a sacred soundscape and a ‘dancescape’ during these performances. Ultimately, the author argues that these ‘petrified dances’ served to memorialise sensory experiences and evoke the epiphany of the goddess within the worshipping community