Bronze handle of a hydria (water jar)

Art Historical Context

This bronze handle from a hydria, or water jar, dates to the Classical Greek period around 460–450 BCE, a golden age of Athenian artistry under Pericles. Measuring 8 3/8 inches (21.3 cm), it once adorned a ceramic vessel used by women to carry water from public fountains—a daily ritual blending practicality with beauty. Crafted by an artist, the handle exemplifies the era's advanced bronze-casting techniques, employing the lost-wax method to create intricate, durable forms that have survived over 2,500 years. Adorned with sirens—mythical half-woman, half-bird creatures known for their seducti...