Coil-Shaped Pyxis (NAMA 5225)
The coil-shaped pyxis (NAMA 5225) is a clay vessel from the Bronze Age Cycladic culture . The clay pyxis, painted dark on light , comes from grave 271 in the necropolis of Chalandriani on the Cycladic island of Syros and is dated to the early Cycladic period (FK II). It was discovered in 1889/90 during excavations under the direction of Christos Tsountas and first published in 1899 by Tsountas. It is exhibited in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens under inventory number 5225 .
description
The pyxis is a unique ceramic object with an unusual shape. It consists of two almost identical parts that fit together. The red-brown clay is finely muddy. On the surface of a pinkish beige to light yellow coating, clear brush marks are visible, the pattern is brown to reddish brown. Similar and comparable patterns can be found in Chalandriani on several spherical pyxides with double eyelet handles.
On the outside, the pyxis has geometric patterns painted in dark on light . Both parts consist of a flat, circular disc on which an upright wall is placed. The larger diameter of the upper part allows it to be placed vertically over the lower part. In the protruding area, the cover and the bottom part are perforated with an opposing pair of holes.
The top has a height of 4.95 cm, the top plate a diameter of 12.6 cm. The outer wall and the lower surface of the lid are painted with a pattern comparable to the surface of the lid. The lower part is 4.8 cm high, the base plate has an irregular diameter of 12.0 to 12.1 cm. The outside of the base plate bears a pattern comparable to the upper part, on the inside three parallel arcs are lined up.
literature
- Christos Tsountas: Cycladica II . In: Ephēmeris archaiologikē 1899, pp. 110–111 ( digitized version ) plates 8, 11, 11a ( digitized version ).
- Jörg Rambach: Cyclades I. The early Bronze Age - grave and settlement findings . Habelt, Bonn 2000, ISBN 3-7749-2831-2 , p. 96 . Plate 38.