Ritual
Phiale

Shallow bowl with a central boss. It was used for drinking and pouring libations. In the vase-painting, phiale usually attends in the scene of libations and some literary evidences prove this shape is called "Phiale".

Since there is a few example with the black- or red-figure and the presence of gold and silver phialai is known from the inscriptions about the treasures of Parthenon, clay phialai were probably intended for substitutions of these. Cf. Boston 97.371 (Perseus Project).

Figured scene is seldom arranged and some simple ornaments are applied on inside.

Dimensions: diam. about 20-30cm

Loutrophoros

Tall vase with a high, funnel-shaped neck, a slender body and a flaring mouth. The name "Loutrophoross" is from "loutron" means a bath and "phero" means to bring.

Some literal evidences prove this shape was called loutrophoros. Water was brought in it from the fountain Kallirrhoe for the nuptial bath, and it was sometimes placed on tombs of unmarried women.

It was appeared by the middle of the sixth century and made till the fourth century. Some later vase have an another vertical handle like hydriai. Some red-figure painter preferred to paint a whole or a part of them with black-figure.

Figured scene is arranged on the body and the neck and the decoration is usually ornate. The subject is generally wedding or funeral. Cf. Philadelphia 30-4-1 (Perseus Project).

Dimensions: height about 50-80cm

Lebes Gamikos

Round body with offset lip, M-shaped handle on either side, a high foot and a lid with a knob. The name "Lebes gamikos" is from "lebes" means deep bowl and "gamikos" means marriage. Some inscriptions probably prove it's a correct name for the shape.

It was first appeared in the middle of the sixth century and flourished from the second quarter of the fifth century to the fourth.

Figured scene is arranged on the body and foot and the decoration became ornate later. Cf. Rhode 28.020 (Perseus Project).

Dimensions: height about 60-80cm

Pinax

Rectangular plaque with holes for suspension or nailing onto walls or trees. The name "Pinax" was also applied to the plate.

These were used as votive or funeral plaques. Former sometimes have figures of God or Goddess, especially Athena, and latter have scenes from funerals. Cf. Paris, Louvre MNB 905 (Perseus Project).

Dimensions: diam. about 10-50cm

Kernos

A vase used for ritual, with a large bowl and many small bowls on the rim. In Athenian pottery, kernos has a ring shaped body with skyphos shaped bowls, which were connected with the body through the holes pierced at the bottom. It was probably used for Eleusinian Mystery.

Dimensions: diam. about 10-15cm

Patela

A shallow bowl copied from metal shape and only produced in South Italy. It was used for wedding or funeral rite to purify. Cf. Toledo 1967.137 (Perseus Project).

Dimensions: diam. about 20-30cm

Nestoris

A vase with round body, other than the handles on the body, tall handles with disc shaped decorations attached to the rim and the shoulder. The shape has the origin in South Italy and used for some ritual. Cf. Harverd 1960.367 (Perseus Project).

Dimensions: Height about 20-30cm

Phormiskos

A jug with a bag or ground shaped body and there is a hole at the tip of the long neck. This vase was probably used to scatter the water for ritual.

Dimensions: height about 20cm