Ancient Greek Attic Red-Figure askos, Circa 4th Century B.C.

This askos has a flat, bulbous shape with a spout at one end and a large semicircular handle across the top. The main motif running along the side of the vessel is a continuous band of laurel leaves. In ancient Greece, the laurel was the sacred tree of Apollo. It represented victory, purification, and protection against evil. Since askoi often contained oils for libations or funerary use, the laurel reinforced the idea of purification of the contents or the space where it was used. At the top is a radiant circular design, similar to a rosette or palmette seen from above. The palmette is one of the most common decorations on Greek pottery and symbolizes life force and regeneration. Its central location serves to visually organize the piece, creating a symmetrical balance that guides the eye toward the spout and handle. The askos was a vessel used to serve small amounts of liquid, often oil to fill oil lamps or lanterns.