lekythos

(noun)

A type of ancient Greek pottery used for storing oil and previous liquids. The body is narrow and has a single handle attached to the neck of the vessel. They typically stood 10 to 20 inches tall, but when used as grave markers could be much larger.

Related Terms

Examples of lekythos in the following topics:

  • Ceramics in the Greek Early Classical Period

    • White-ground painting is often seen on a lekythos, a vessel used to hold oils, which were sometimes used for anointing the dead.
    • Attic white ground lekythos. c. 440-430 BCE.
    • Attic white-ground black-figure lekythos.
    • Attic white ground lekythos. c. 440-430 BCE.

  • Stelae in the Greek High Classical Period

    • The Grave Stele of an Athlete (early fourth century BCE) from the island of Delos depicts a male athlete receiving lekythos of oil from a male youth.