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Unknown Maker, Greek

Wine Jug (Oinochoe)

Description

Maker

Unknown Maker, Greek

Culture

Greek

Title

Wine Jug (Oinochoe)

Year

ca. 430 BCE

Medium

  • terracotta,
  • red-figure

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

  • terracotta,
  • red-figure

Materials

clay

Geography

Place Made: Attica; Archaeological Site: Greece, Sounion

Dimensions

Height: 22.2 cm (8 3/4 inches)

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Museum Appropriation Fund

Object Number

25.090

Type

  • Ceramics

Exhibition History

Exhibition History

Ancient Greek and Roman Galleries
Sep 22, 2010

Label copy

There are several forms of Athenian wine jugs (oinochoai); this form, called a chous, is known for its bulbous body and three-lobed mouth. During the Anthesteria, a springtime festival celebrating the new vintage of wines, it was customary to drink from choes and to pour libations from them at the tomb. As the ancient Greeks also considered springtime to be a period of rebirth, when the spirits of the dead returned to visit the living, choes were often used as grave offerings.

The image on this chous indicates that it may have been used in a funerary or ceremonial context. As a grave-gift, it would have allowed for the perpetual renewal of the deceased’s lifetime accomplishments. For the Athenians, mounted horsemen were heroic figures. Here, the young horseman beside his steed can be understood as a fallen hero. The monument in the background was perhaps intended to commemorate him.

Use & Feedback

Image use

The images on this website can enable discovery and collaboration and support new scholarship, and we encourage their use.

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. 430 BCE
Terracotta, red-figure
Height: 22.2 cm (8 3/4 inches)
Museum Appropriation Fund 25.090

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We view our online collection as a living documents, and our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you have additional information or have spotted an error, please send feedback to curatorial@risd.edu.

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