Pyxis (Container for Personal Objects)
Ancient Greek Painting and Sculpture
-730–-720
- Medium
- terracotta
- Dimensions
- 25 × 33 × 33.3 cm (9 7/8 × 13 × 13 1/8 in.)
- Genre
- Earthenware
- Museum
- Art Institute of Chicago
Styles
Tags
Greekearthenwarevesselanimalsgeometrichorsesceramicsinorganic materialancient artatticceramicancientcontainersterracotta
About
Ceramic vessels decorated with repetitive linear designs were so popular during the 8th and 7th centuries BC that the term Geometric applies to both the style and the time period (800–600 BC). The body of this container is decorated with popular ornamentations, among them Greek key pattern, or meanders, as well as checkerboard patterns, dotted and crosshatched lozenges, and chevrons. The handle of this vase takes the form of horses standing side by side, suggesting a team for a four-horse chariot. Ownership of horses was an important indicator of financial status, since only the wealthy could afford to possess and train them.
