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ARYBALLOS

ARYBALLOS (ἀρύβαλλος), a vessel somewhat resembling the λήκυθος and ampulla, and, like them, used for carrying oil to the bath or palaestra. Pollux mentions it among the

Aryballos. (British Museum. Terra-cotta from Camirus, in Rhodes.)

utensils of the bath (7.166; 10.63); but it is a mistake to identify it with the ύδρία or large jug for pouring water over the bathers : it was, indeed, larger than the ἀρύταινα (Aristoph. Kn. 1091, 1094), but the latter was a mere ladle, and the ἀρύβαλλος itself of no great size. Athenaeus describes it as a cup (ποτήριον) shaped like a purse with strings (ὡς τὰ συσπαστὰ βαλάντια i. e. with a globular body and a short and narrow neck; and adds that such purses were sometimes called ἀρύβαλλοι from this resemblance (Ath. xi. p. 783 f, following p. 466). it had a small ring or handle, just sufficient for a thong to carry it with, like the ink-bottles (otherwise different in shape) figured under ATRAMENTUM Hence the name is assigned, with great probability, to the specimens of ancient pottery frequent in museums, called by the Italians vasi a palla, i.e. ball-shaped. They are chiefly found among vases of the earliest style, and were carried with the strigil to the bath. The earliest form is that in the cut No. 1, but often without a base, as in cuts 2 and 3. No. 4 represents a later form. These vessels are often richly painted with mythological subjects (Birch, Anc. Pottery, ed. 1873, p. 374).

Aryballoi. (Dennis, Etruria, i. p. cxxiv.)

Other derivatives from the same root ἀρύω, ἀρύτω, to draw water, ἀρυστήρ, ἀρύστιχος, ἀρύταινα, ἀρυτήρ, are sufficiently described in the lexicons.

[W.W]

hide References (2 total)
  • Cross-references from this page (2):
    • Aristophanes, Knights, 1091
    • Aristophanes, Knights, 1094
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