Lekythos

Lekythos

A lekythos (plural lekythoi) is a type of Greek pottery used for storing oil, especially olive oil. It has a narrow body and one handle attached to the neck of the vessel. The lekythos was used for anointing dead bodies of unmarried men and many lekythoi are found in tombs. The images on lekythoi were often depictions of daily activities or rituals. Because they are so often used in funerary situations, they may also depict funerary rites, a scene of loss, or a sense of departure as a form of funerary art. These drawings are usually outline drawings that are quite expressionless and somber in appearance. The decoration of these ceramic vessels consists of a dull red and black paint. These colors may have been derived from the Bronze Age, but were not used until 530 B.C. in Athens. Many artists of these vessels attempt to add more color to the figures, but end up abandoning the idea as to leave more of a contrast. These vessels were very popular circa the 5th century B.C., however there are many that have been found dating all the way back to 700 B.C.

Lekythoi can be divided into five types:

*the standard or cylindrical lekythos, which measures between 30 and 50 cm though there are much larger lekythoi, up to 1 m, which may have been used to replace funerary stele,

*the Deianeria lekythos which originates from Corinth, this form has an oval profile and a round shoulder and is generally of a small size (20cm), it was produced from the beginning of the black figure period until the late 6th century,

*the secondary or shoulder lekythos, a variation on the standard type produced from the mid 5th century on, most are decorated with the white ground technique and measure around 20cm,

*the squat lekythos, usually less than 20cm in height with a rounded belly and a flat base,

*the acorn lekythos, a rarer form, which has an oval profile and a net of points at the base.

ee also

*Loutrophoros


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  • Lekythos — ist die Bezeichnung für eine spezielle griechische Vase zur Aufbewahrung von Olivenöl, die insbesondere im 5. Jahrhundert vor Christus als Grabbeigabe diente. Lekythen wurden meistens bemalt (farbig auf weißem Grund). Während die Loutrophoros… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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  • Lekythos — (a. Geogr.), Castell auf Chalkidike (Macedonien); Brasidas eroberte es von den Athenern u. schleifte es; j. St. Kiriaki …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Lekythos — Le|ky|thos 〈f.; , ky|then〉 altgrch. Ölgefäß mit Fuß, Hals, Ausguss u. Henkel [<grch. lekythos „Ölflasche“] * * * Lekythos   [griechisch] die, /... kythen, schlankes, einhenkliges, schon früh im Totenkult verwendetes griechisches Ölgefäß mit… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • lekythos — /lek euh thos /, n., pl. lekythoi / thoy /. Gk. and Rom. Antiq. an oil jar having an ellipsoidal body, narrow neck, flanged mouth, curved handle extending from below the lip to the shoulder, and a narrow base terminating in a foot: used chiefly… …   Universalium

  • Lekythos — Lekўthos, altgriech. Gefäß, schlank, mit langem Halse, einem schnabelförmigen Mundstück und einem Henkel, bes. für Salböl benutzt [Abb. 1038] …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • lekythos — lè·ky·thos s.f.inv. TS archeol. vaso per unguenti a collo lungo e ansa verticale Sinonimi: 2lecito. {{line}} {{/line}} DATA: 1957. ETIMO: dal gr. lēkuthos …   Dizionario italiano

  • Lekythos — Le|ky|thos 〈f.; Gen.: , Pl.: ky|then〉 altgrch. Ölgefäß mit Fuß, Hals, Ausguss u. Henkel [Etym.: grch., »Ölflasche«] …   Lexikalische Deutsches Wörterbuch

  • Lekythos — Le|ky|thos die; , ...ythen <aus gr. le̅kythos »Ölflasche«> altgriech. Henkelkrug mit schlankem Hals aus Ton, der als Ölgefäß diente u. häufig auch Grabbeigabe war …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • lekythos —    In ancient Greece, an oil jug with an ellipsoidal body, a narrow neck, a flanged mouth, a curved handle extending from below the lip to the shoulder, and a narrow base terminating in a foot. It was used chiefly for ointments and funerary… …   Glossary of Art Terms

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