Terracotta pointed aryballos

Unknown

ca. 620–590 BCE · Terracotta, painted · Greek and Roman Art

Small aryballoi were used as containers to hold scented oil. Olive oil in particular was treated with aromatic plants such as rose, sage, coriander, and pomegranate. Since this was a valuable luxury item in the Mediterranean, it was usually stored in bottles with narrow necks that limited the flow of the liquid. Corinth was one of the most important centers of production and distribution of such vases, which were widely exported all over Greece as well as in South Italy and Sicily.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 620–590 BCE

Medium

Terracotta, painted

Culture

Greek, Corinthian

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Bequest of Nanette B. Kelekian, 2020