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Unknown Maker, Greek

Wine Jug (Oinochoe)

Maker

Unknown Maker, Greek

Culture

Greek

Title

Wine Jug (Oinochoe)

Year

ca. 490 BCE

Medium

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Materials

clay

Geography

Place Made: Attica

Dimensions

Height: 24 cm (9 7/16 inches) (to top of handle)

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Gift of Mrs. Gustav Radeke

Object Number

22.213

Type

Publications

Exhibition History

Ancient Greek and Roman Galleries
Sep 22, 2010

Label copy

Although the word symposium means literally a “drinking together,” symposia were not inclusive events. Women were not permitted to attend, with the exception of the hired female companions (hetairai), who entertained and served the all-male guests. This figural wine jug (oinochoe) was likely used in the symposium, where its anthropomorphic form would have enlivened the assortment of vessels used for sorting, mixing, pouring, and drinking wine. This vessel’s form is particularly appropriate to its function, since wine was customarily poured by hetairai during the symposium.

Image use

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Public Domain This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

Unknown Maker, Greek
Wine Jug (Oinochoe), ca. 490 BCE
Terracotta, red-figure
Height: 24 cm (9 7/16 inches) (to top of handle)
Gift of Mrs. Gustav Radeke 22.213

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