Aby Warburg
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Mnemosyne Atlas 6

Types of ancient pre-coinages
3. The sacrificial raptus

Gestural formulae expressing opposing aspects of sacrifice: the active image of the executioner (Ajax; priest and Maenad-priestess; ritual dance: dance of the priest and Maenad; funeral dance; 'dance' of Achilles at Skyros) and the passive image of the victim (Laocoon as the sacrificed priest; Polyxena; Cassandra).

Notes by Aby Warburg (1929)

Kult (Tanz)

Cult (dance).

Notes by Aby Warburg and coll. (1929)

Antike Vorprägungen
Raub (Proserpina, Unterwelt [Tafel 5]). Opfer (Polyxena). Opfernde Mänade (Priesterin). Tod des Priesters (Laokoon). Conclamatio. Tanz des Priesters (Isis). Grabtä nzerinnen. Achill auf Skyros (als Chorführer?).

Precoinages from Antiquity
Rape (Proserpina, underworld [Panel 5]). Sacrifice (Polyxena). Sacrificing maenad (priestess). Death of the priest (Laokoon). Calling the name of the dead. The priest’s dance (Isis). Female funerary dancers. Achille on Skyros (as chorus leader?).

Notes by Gertrud Bing (ca. 1940)

Kult – Mysterien. Opfer der Polixena. Ajax (gleicher Sagenkreis) raubt Kassandra, diese – herische Priesterin. Mänade im thiasotischen Rausch. Cybele (synkretistischer Mysterien kult) zieht auf d. Schiff in Rom ein. Laokoon, Seher, Priester, stirbt. Das steht zur den ganzen Komplex des geopferten Priesterkönigs. Was bedeutet hier die Conclamatio?Pompeijanische Fresken bedeuten Verwandlung des Priesters. Wieso? Totenreigen. Dionysischer Reigen. Warum Achill auf Skyros hier?

Cult – Mysteries. Sacrifice of Polyxena. Ajax (similar legend) abducts Cassandra, the seer priestess. Maenad in a state of thiasotic intoxication. Cybele (syncretic mystery cult) arrives in Rome on a ship.  Laocoon, seer and priest, dies. This stands for the whole complex of the sacrificed priest-king. What does the Conclamatio mean here? The Pompeian frescoes signify a change [in the representation] of the priest. Why? Funeral ritual dance. Dionysian ritual dance. Why Achilles in Skyros here?

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  • Atlas plates 1929: ©The Warburg Institute Archive
  • english version: Elizabeth E. Thomson
  • graphic design: Daniele Savasta