Karditsa Thinker

Karditsa Thinker
MaterialTerracotta
Heightc. 50 cm
Createdc. 3900 BC
DiscoveredThessaly, Greece
Present locationAthens, Attica, Greece

The Karditsa Thinker, or the Thinker of Karditsa (Greek: στοχαστής της Καρδίτσας), is a Neolithic clay figurine found in the area of Karditsa in Thessaly, Greece. This artifact, dating back to the Final Neolithic period (4500-3300 B.C.), is a solid clay figurine of a seated man. It conveys the impression of a man looking upwards, and his hand is supporting his head which suggests a person who is thinking.[1][2]

Standing about half a meter tall, the figurine exhibits features of fully developed sculpture and is considered the largest Neolithic artifact found in Greece. The pronounced ithyphallic element, though mostly broken, along with its size, suggests a possible cultic character, possibly representing an agrarian deity associated with the fertility of the land.[1][3][4]

It is made of terracotta and is considered a significant archaeological find due to its size and artistic value. The figurine is believed to have been created during the Neolithic period, a time characterized by the transition from hunting and gathering to settled agriculture. It is currently housed in the Greek Prehistory Gallery of the National Archaeological Museum, Athens.[5][1][6]

  1. ^ a b c "The Thinker". ancient-greece.org. Archived from the original on 2015-04-19. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  2. ^ "www.2steps.gr [Ο "Στοχαστής", Εθνικό Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο, Αθήνα, Αττική]". 2steps.gr. Archived from the original on 2023-06-30. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  3. ^ "Photo-National Archaeological Museum - Neollithic Thinker from Karditsa". www.athensguide.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-14. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  4. ^ "Οι προϊστορικοί χρόνοι. Η νεολιθική εποχή (6800 π.Χ. ως το 3300 π.Χ.)". Ερανιστής (in Greek). 2018-12-01. Archived from the original on 2023-06-30. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  5. ^ Todd, Gary (2016-07-20), English: The "Thinker." Large figure of a seated man, Karditsa, Thessaly, 4500-3300 BCGreek Prehistory Gallery, National Museum of Archaeology, Athens, Greece. Complete indexed photo collection at WorldHistoryPics.com., archived from the original on 2023-07-08, retrieved 2023-06-30
  6. ^ "Λίγα λόγια για τον τόπο μας". Gousiaris. Archived from the original on 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2023-06-30.