Heraklion Archaeological Museum - CollectiveAccess System : Clay objects : Clay kantharos with labyrinthine geometric motif and chequerboard pattern [Π19290]

Clay kantharos with labyrinthine geometric motif and chequerboard pattern

Π19290

Clay

Restored on handles, base and parts of body. Mended.

Height: 12.5 cm.Base diameter: 4.5 cm.Rim diameter: 7.8 cm.

Lyttos

Hellenistic period:

230-220 BC:

Gallery:

Case:

199

Exhibition thematic unit:

Classical - Hellenistic - Roman period (5th c. BC-4th c. AD). Cities and Sanctuaries

War - Destructions of Cities

Description

This kantharos comes from the destruction layer of a house in ancient Lyttos. The city, a Lacedaemonian colony, acquired military power in the Hellenistic period and soon began to compete with Knossos. The latter, according to the historian Polybius, took advantage of the absence of the Lyttian warriors on campaign to invade and raze the city in 220-221 BC. This is confirmed by the archaeological finds. The kantharos has a conical body with distinctive handles, while its neck is decorated with a labyrinthine motif and chequerboard pattern . During the Hellenistic period, a certain standardisation began to predominate in Greek pottery, both in the shapes of the vessels and in their decoration. Similar kantharoi have been found at many other sites of the period, while this decorative motif adorns many different vessel types.

Bibliography:

Lebessi Α., “Αρχαιότητες και μνημεία κεντρικής και ανατολικής Κρήτης”, Αρχαιολογικό Δελτίο vol. 26 (1971) Μέρος Β’ 2-Χρονικά, 493-501. Dekoulakou Ι., “Αρχαιότητες και μνημεία Αχαΐας ”, 120, pl. 69β, Αρχαιολογικό Δελτίο vol. 30 (1975) Μέρος Β’ 1-Χρονικά, 99-120. Drougou S.-Touratsoglou G., Ελληνιστικοί λαξευτοί τάφοι Βεροίας, Athens 1980, 162, pl. 51. Patsiada V., “Κεραμική του τύπου της «Δυτικής Κλιτύος» από τη Ρόδο” Αρχαιολογικό Δελτίο vol. 38 (1983) Μέρος Α’-Μελέτες, 99-120. Egglezou Μ., Ελληνιστική κεραμική Κρήτης. Κεντρική Κρήτη, Athens, 2005, 95-98, pl. 84β.

Author:

S. P.

Photographs' metadata