Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Libations for the Dead: "Lekythoi" at The Ashmoleoan Museum, Oxford

Libations for the Dead
The lekythos played an important part in Athenian funeral rites. Most lekyythoi (the plural in Greek) served as offerings to the dead. They were placed in graves, or on the steps of the grave stelae, and used to anoint funerary monuments... images were often applied on a white background, perhaps designed to evoke ivory, a material associated with funerals in ancient times...
Above, for your delectation: a few of lovely lekyythoi from The Ashmoleoan Museum's epic display, as seen yesterday with the lovely Eleanor Crook; Text also drawn also from display. All photos are my own; click on image to see larger version.

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