Ancient Greek pottery and mourning figure

Agora Museum, Athens, Greece

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Material: Terracotta and painted ceramic
Date range: approx. 600 - 450 BC
Origin: Greece (likely Attica)

The centerpiece of this assembly is a terracotta figurine of a woman in a traditional pose of ritual lamentation, with her hands clasped atop her head. This iconography was common in Greek funerary art to represent grief. Flanking her are various forms of the lekythos, a vessel specifically designed to hold perfumed oil used in burial rites and as offerings at the tomb.

The collection illustrates the evolution of vase painting, featuring both the traditional black-figure technique and the later white-ground style. One prominent lekythos depicts a figure playing the aulos (double pipes), a musical instrument often associated with both celebratory and somber processions. Other vessels show scenes of combat and daily life, rendered with the characteristic precision of Athenian workshops.

These objects emphasize their role in the transition between life and death in ancient Greek culture. The varied shapes, from the tall, slender lekythoi to the smaller, more rounded jugs, demonstrate the specialized functions of ceramic ware in religious and domestic life. Together, they provide a visual narrative of the artistic and social practices of the Archaic and Classical periods.

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Display of black-figure and white-ground lekythoi with a terracotta mourning woman

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Source:  Athens, Greece