Terracotta squat lekythos (oil jar)
Unknown Artist
early 4th century BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
H. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Classical
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1906
Accession Number
06.1021.199
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming terracotta squat lekyos, or oil jar, hails from Attic Greece in the early 4th century BCE during the Classical period. just 5¼ inches (13.3 cm) tall, these compact vessels were essential for storing scented oils and ointments, often used in rituals or funerary offerings. Produced in Athens, the heart of Greek pottery innovation, this piece exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of Attic workshops, where potters shaped clay on a wheel and fired it to a warm reddish hue. Adorned with scenes featuring women and mythical griffins—fierce creatures with eagle heads and lion bodies—the ...