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Lekythos

Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience

Ancient Greek vase artwork showing Hypnos and Thanatos, mythological figures, carrying Sarphedon's body from the Trojan battlefield.

A lekythos is a special kind of ancient Greek container used mainly for holding olive oil. These vessels have a narrow body and one handle attached to the neck, making them different from other jugs. Unlike some containers, lekythoi do not have a pouring lip. They come in different shapes, but the most common types have straight sides that curve inward near the top.

Lekythoi were often used in special ceremonies, especially for remembering people who had passed away. Artists liked to paint pictures on them using a special method called the white ground technique, which made the designs stand out. Because of the handle, only one main picture could be painted on each lekythos, usually on the side opposite the handle. These beautiful containers help us learn about ancient Greek life and traditions.

Function

Attic white ground lekythos, c. 490 BC, Achilles dragging the body of Hector

Lekythoi were special containers used in ancient times, often placed in tombs. They held perfumed oil used for important ceremonies or to honor the dead. The pictures on lekythoi showed everyday life or sad moments, like saying goodbye, and were painted in simple red and black colors.

These vessels were popular around 700 to 500 BC. Some had a special part inside to hold less oil. They were also used by women before marriage and placed in tombs for unmarried women, as if to help them get ready for a wedding in the afterlife.

Types

Lekythoi come in five main types. The standard or cylindrical lekythos is usually between 30 and 50 cm tall, but there are larger ones, up to 1 meter, that might have been used in special ways. The Deianeria lekythos comes from Corinth and is smaller, about 20 cm, with an oval shape.

Another type is the shoulder lekythos, which started around the mid-5th century and has a fuller body, often decorated with white paint, and is about 20 cm tall. The squat lekythos is shorter, usually less than 20 cm, with a rounded bottom and flat base. The acorn lekythos is rarer, with an oval shape and a special cup-like part at the bottom.

There are also "plastic" lekythoi shaped like heads, animals, or other forms.

Images

A digital representation of an ancient artwork from the Louvre Museum.
Ancient Greek artwork showing a soldier preparing to leave home, from a 2,500-year-old pottery piece.
An ancient Greek vase from around 510 BC showing the hero Ajax carrying the body of Achilles, a scene from Greek mythology.
An ancient Greek vase from around 550 BC showing a joyful dance scene from mythology.
Ancient Greek pottery from around 475-450 BC, showcasing intricate designs and craftsmanship.
Ancient Greek pottery artwork from the Louvre showing a scene with mythological figures Aphrodite and Eros.
An ancient Greek vase painting showing Herakles and the centaur Pholos sharing a quiet moment before a meal. This artwork is from the Walters Art Museum and illustrates a scene from Greek mythology.
Ancient Greek vases displayed in the Ancient Agora Museum in Athens, showcasing beautiful black-figure pottery designs.
Ancient Greek vase showing Hermes guiding Myrrhine, a scene from mythology, displayed in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.
An ancient Greek pottery piece from the 4th century BC, showcasing a figure from mythology in the National Museum in Warsaw.

Related articles

Olive oil
Afterlife

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Lekythos, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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