Terracotta lentoid flask

Unknown

ca. 1600–1050 BCE · Terracotta · Greek and Roman Art

A sign that may be in the undeciphered Cypro-Minoan script was engraved near the base of the handle before firing. There is little evidence for direct contact between Crete and Cyprus when the syllabic script Cypro-Minoan was first adopted around 1500 B.C. The transference of Minoan script to Cyprus from Crete probably occurred at a site on the coast of Syria, where both Cypriots and Minoans had active commercial relations.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1600–1050 BCE

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Cypriot

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76