Ostraka (English spelling) ostraca [Latin]

Japanese: オストラカ（英語表記）ostraca[ラテン]

It means a piece of pottery. The singular form is ostracon, and it is a word derived from the Greek ostrakon. In particular, in ancient Greece, it refers to pottery fragments used in votes to prevent the tyranny of rulers (ostrakismos). In art history, it also refers to small works of art with letters or pictures painted on shards of pots, etc., as a substitute for papyrus. There are many examples of this in ancient Egypt, and it is a valuable resource for the history of painting and customs. By extension, this name is also used to refer to works painted on pieces of limestone. [Tomobe Nao]

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

陶片の意。単数形はostraconで，ギリシア語のostrakonから出た語。とくに古代ギリシアで，支配者の専横を防ぐための投票に用いられた陶片をさす(オストラキスモス)。また，美術史では，壺の破片などにパピルスの代用として文字や絵を描いた小型の作品をいう。古代エジプトにその例が多く，絵画史，風俗史の貴重な資料である。転じて，石灰岩片に描かれたものもこの名で呼ぶ。【友部直】

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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