Alabastron with relief decoration

Alabastron with relief decoration

Date
1st-2nd century
Dimensions
Height: 90mm
Medium
Earthenware, two-part mould
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Vessel for unguents with a narrow base and body slightly flaring upwards, with impressed decoration on one side; a small handle at the back. The lower body featuresdecoration of fan-shaped acanthus leaves. A relief band with ends hanging on both sides of the shoulders. Next to it, there isgarland of flowers on which the crown of Isis (the goddess of maternity, the patroness of families) was placed, the basileion two ostrich feathers with a sun disc on the cow’s horns. Earthenware alabastra have been known since the early Hellenistic Period; they may have served as ex-vota offered by newlyweds to Isis. This particular alabaster islater version of this type of vessel, although specimens with the same decoration but of a slightly different shape have been found by the Polish archaeological mission at Tell-Atrib in the Nile Delta in layers from the 2nd century BC.

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