In the last decades, research on the coroplastica and the votive deposits in Italy has significantly
developed; in particular the findings from Locri Epizefiri represent an excellent
opportunity to investigate the archaeological expressions of worship, and to begin decoding
their ritual traces. The important deposit excavated by P. Orsi in the Mannella’s site
is a very well-known and composite example, characterized by the presence of pinakes,
the clay tablets which have allowed researchers to investigate the most peculiar ceremonies
of the greek colony.
We present a case study to investigate the expressive grammar of rituality, to discuss
methodological and interpretative problems, and to try and read the Mannella’s deposit
within the worship system of the local community. The problem of the recognition of
the main sanctuary of Persephone is faced, and also the meaning and function of the
pinakes and their role in the behavior-system of the sacred polis. We offer a new interpretation,
primarily based on a functional-type research, which starts from the different
levels of context that can be reconstructed
