Greek Attic Lekythos, Circa 5th Century B.C

A ceramic lekythos oil flask composed of a piriform body, broad shoulder, narrow cylindrical neck, D-section handle and splayed foot, black glaze to body with band of polychrome radiating lines around the shoulder, geometric motifs below.

A lekythos is a jug with a single wide handle and a narrow neck combined with a wide mouth, which enabled it to control the amount of oil. They were used to contain oils and are generally associated with funerary rituals, as several lekythos have been found with the body in various burials. They are also closely associated with purifying rituals and feminine hygiene sessions, as they were part of everyday furnishings.