Draft:Lekythos

Lekythoi (;sg.:Lekythos) are storage vessels commonly used in Ancient Greece used for storing oil, especially olive oil. There are five distinct types of Lekythos: cylindrical, Deianira, shoulder, squat, and acorn,^[1] they can be differentiated by their size and shape. Lekythos are thought to have primarily been used for storage as well as used during important funerary practices.

Hypnos and Thanatos carrying the body of Sarpedon from the battlefield of Troy; detail from an Attic white-ground] lekythos, c. 440 BC

A red-figure pottery (terracotta) "kerch" style lekythos depicting a nymph and satyr playing a game of knucklebones, with two Eros figures (standing between Aphrodite) offering laurel wreaths of victory to the nymph and to a youth, c. 350 BC

A lekythos in Gnathia style with Eros depicted playing with a ball, Apulian vase painting, third quarter of the 4th century BC

majority of them are made out of fired clay. Because of their handles Lekythoi were normally only decorated with one image; on the other side from the handle they are often photographed with the handle hidden, to show the painted image.

Origins

The first versions of Lekythoi have been found dating back to 700 BCE; however, majority of these vessels were popular during the 5th and 6th century BCE. The decoration of these ceramic vessels consists of red and black paint. These colors may have been derived from the Bronze Age, but were not used until 530 BCE in Athens. Many artists of these vessels attempted to add more color to the figures, but later abandoned the idea. The black-figure painting on lekythos has been found in Athen dating back to 630 BCE. This technique involved painting on the image and firing the clay, which would result in the art firing black while the remaining unpainted clay fired the natural red color of the clay.^[2] Black-figure painting often put an emphasis on human figures instead of animals, and allowed for a better quality for the pigment on the clay.^[3] The use of the black-figure painting technique was common throughout the history of making Lekythos, however around 530 BCE red-figure paintings became popular amongst the vessels in Athens^[3]. The technique for red-figure paintings was similar to that of the black-figure technique. Instead of the figures being painted on, the background was painted in and the clay was fired. This resulted in the background firing black and the figures firing the natural red color of the clay^[2]. During this time white-ground painting became popular as well. The white-ground painting technique involved adding a thin layer of white clay onto the surface of the vessel and then painting an image in a different color, typically black, then firing the vessel^[2]. The white-ground technique was primarily used on funerary Lekythoi. These Lekythoi were used for anointing the bodies of the dead, and have been found in tombs and burial sites. The images on these lekythos were often depictions of daily activities and rituals. Because they were so often used in funerary practices, many of the images often depicted funerary rites, scenes of loss, or a sense of departure. These are usually outline drawings that are somber and expressionless. The Lekythoi involved in funeral practices typically contained perfumed oils which acted as offerings to the dead, and/or offerings to the gods of the underworld.

Types of Lekythoi

Lekythoi were primarily used for funerary purposes, however because they were storage vessels they would also be used in bath houses and gymnasiums^[3]. The design of the Lekythoi evolved over time, but typically they were created with a prominent base and lip, a narrow neck, and a flared body where decorative images would be placed. Each lekythos had a single looped handle that was connected to the neck designed for holding and carrying. Some lekythos were fitted with a small, inner chamber, that limited the amount of oil required to fill them. This was because the oil stored in the vessels were very valuable.^[4] This prevented excess pouring and use of the oils. There are five distinct types of lekythos:

Cylindrical

The standard or cylindrical Lekythos typically measures from 30 to 50 centimeters (12 to 20 inches). However much larger "huge lekythoi" have been found to measure up to 1 meter (3 ft 3 in), and may have been used to replace funerary stele^[4]. The sides of the body are usually vertical by the shoulder, with a sharp change in direction as the neck curves in. Cylindrical lekythos were typically used for funerary practices and were commonly decorated using white-ground painting.^[5] The images typically depicted on these lekythoi included an array of images from everyday tasks, to images specific to the deceased, and mythological depictions of the afterlife.^[6]

Deianira

The Deianira Lekythos originated from Corinth. This version of Lekythos was designed with an oval profile and a round shoulder. This form is generally small in size (20 centimeters). Deianira primarily were decorated with black-figure paintings^[5] often depicting mythological scenes, and were produced from the beginning of the black-figure period until the end of the 6th century BCE.

Shoulder

The shoulder or secondary Lekythos, is a variation of the standard/cylindrical lekythos, this version is from the mid 5th century BCE. They were designed to have a fuller, swelling body,^[4] and typically measure to be around 20 centimeters.

Squat & Acorn

The squat lekythos typically measures to be less than 20 centimeters in height. They were designed with a rounded belly and a flat base, along with a short neck.

The acorn Lekythos is a more rare form of the vessel and were typically used to hold perfume oils. They were designed with an oval profile and towards the bottom of the body they have a raised cup with protrusions.

Deianeria lekythos
Achilles and Ajax playing a board game (Attic shoulder lekythos by the workshop of the Diosphos Painter, c. 500 BC)
Shoulder lekythos
Shoulder lekythos, c. 510
Prothesis (lying in repose) (attic plychrome lekythos (type V), from Alopeke, Group of the Huge Lekythoi, late 5th century BC)
Squat (left) and plastic (right) shapes
Squat type
"Acorn" type, Louvre
A view from above
Group in Athens
Relief from a carved funerary lekythos (National Archaeological Museum, Athens): Hermes conducts the deceased, Myrrhine, to Hades, c. 430–420 BC.