Object ID
1995.58.1
Object Name
Pot
Alternative Name
Amphora
Material
Ceramic
Object Description
An early Iron Age amphoid with ovoid body with twin loop handles extending from the shoulder with short neck and slightly flared rim. It is either White Painted Ware or Bichrome (there could be two slightly different colors of paint, but it seems more likely to be White Painted) with a matte buff slip and dark brown paint for the details. The painted design is simple and consists of thick and think bands of dark brown paint details and the handles are also painted dark brown. There are the faint remains of a dark brown-black zigzag detail around the outer lip of the rim and a thin wavy line reminiscent of the rope incisions extending from the base of the handles and encircling the body of the vessel. This wavy line is very similar in design to that on Object #2002.35.4.

Interior of ceramic may have residue. Indentation on bottom third of ceramic below handle- most likely occuried in antiquity while the ceramic was drying. Overall the vessel is in good condition with no major chips or cracks with some limestone erosion in patches on the body of the vessel.

This is a very common early Iron Age shape and decoration.

Comparanda: Cesnola Collection 1995.10.1038, 1995.10.1041, 1995.10.1048, 1995.10.1028 .
Origin
This amphora was donated to the National Hellenic Museum by Drs. Andreas and Vivian Kodros on September 10, 1995. Dr. Andreas Kodros bought the vessel from the Cyprus Museum during a trip to Cyprus.

During the presentation of this vessel to the National Hellenic Museum, Dr. Kodros dated it to 1200BC. There is no further documentation related to the original acquisition of the object or the methods used to date the object to 1200BC.

After his death in 2002, the National Hellenic Museum acquired copies of the export papers for ancient artifacts that Dr. Kodros collected on his trips to Cyprus. It is assumed that the museum has the correct export paper to be assigned to this object, but without the object's original registration number it is not possible to match the artifact with the export paper.

While the paperwork at the time of the donation suggests that the object dates to 1200BC (Late Bronze Age), upon further examination of the object it most certaintly dates to the Early Iron Age, most likely the Cypro-Geometric Period (1050-750BC).
Rights and Reproduction
The content on this site is made available for research and education purposes only. The use of these materials may be restricted by law or the donor.

Any other use, such as exhibition, publication, or commercial use, is not allowed except by written permission in accordance with the NHM Image Rights and Reproduction Policy.

For questions on image rights and reproduction, please contact nhmcollections@hellenicmuseum.org
Citation
Pot, National Hellenic Museum, https://collections.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/Detail/objects/8079. Accessed 05/03/24.