Large handle-less kantharos, Etruria (Italy), 600-550 BCE

Made:
600-550 BCE in Italy
maker:
Unattributed
Large handleless kantharos, or chalice Large handleless kantharos, or chalice Large handleless kantharos, or chalice Large handleless kantharos, or chalice

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Large handleless kantharos, or chalice
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Large handleless kantharos, or chalice
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Large handleless kantharos, or chalice
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Large handleless kantharos, or chalice
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Large handleless kantharos, or chalice, Etruscan Bucchero fabric, decorated with winged male heads in relief and some incised motifs, Etruscan, Etruria, Italy, 600 BC-550 BC

A kantharos is a cup used for drinking wine and water. It normally has handles, unlike this one. The cup is decorated with winged male heads which are usually associated with the Greek god Hermes. Hermes was the messenger of the gods, led the dead to the underworld and was worshiped as a god of fertility. This chalice is from Etruria, an ancient state of Italy, now part of Umbria and Tuscany. The colour and design is typical of Etruscan pottery and would have been polished to give a high shine.

Details

Category:
Classical & Medieval Medicine
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A170368
Materials:
pottery
Measurements:
overall: 190 mm 164 mm, .71kg
type:
kantharos
credit:
Sotheby's