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Pyxis (vessel)

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For other uses, see Pyxis (disambiguation).
The wedding of Thetis and Peleus. Attic red-figure pyxis, c. 470–460 BC.

A pyxis (Greek: πυξίς; pl.: pyxides) is a shape of vessel from the classical world, usually a cylindrical box with a separate lid and no handles[1]. They were used to hold cosmetics, trinkets or jewellery, but were also used for dispensing incense and by physicians to contain medicine.[2] Surviving pyxides are mostly Greek pottery, but could also be made from a range of other materials: wood, bronze, ivory, marble, terracotta, silver, or stone.[3] The name derived from Corinthian boxes made of wood from the tree puksos ("boxwood").[3] During the Classical period, the Attic word "kylichnis" was also used to refer to the same shape.[3] The shape of the vessel can be traced in pottery back to the Protogeometric period in Athens, however the Athenian pyxis has various shapes itself.

Types[edit]

There were many different varieties of pyxis, popular in different times and places. The earliest were the Protogeometric type of vessel which had a globular body, and the pointed-bottom pyxis from the early Geometric period.[4] The pointed pyxis didn't last much longer than the ninth century BCE. During the later Geometric period another style emerged with a flat, very broad base.[5] Contemporary scholarship classifies pyxides as either: type A, type B, type C, type D, lekanis, Nikosthenic, or tripod.[6]

Nikosthenic type[edit]

attic red figure pyxis with lid of Nikosthenic shape
Nikosthenic Pyxis showcasing two charioteers and two Hoplites running - ca. 520-500 BCE

This type was introduced by Nikosthenes during the late sixth century BCE. It is characterised by a deep, calyx-shaped bowl with a flanged rim and a stemmed foot, and a domed lid.[7] The decorations on pyxides found in an Etruscan context tend towards depictions of battles and athletic contests; for pyxides found in Greek and near eastern Mediterranean settings the depictions tend to be of marriage, childbirth, or religious processions.[8] Evidence suggests that this was a popular type on the eastern Aegean island of Samos and in Etruria between 560–500 BCE.[9]

Proto-Geometric type

Examples of pyxide from the Proto-Geometric style of Greek pottery normaly between roughly 1050 and 900 BCE[10][11][12] include the Globular Pyxis, a type of pyxis characterized with a wide, circular body and a flared lip at the top of the vessel.[13] Other forms of pyxide commonly from the early geometric period include the pointed pyxis is a type of pyxis characteried with a wide tip that thins into a point at the bottom.[14]

Conrinthian type

Corinthian style pyxides usually share similar traits of being less circular than traditional Greek geometric style pyxides. We can see this in the tall convex pyxis,[15] and the 8th century straight-sided pyxis[16] Corinthian styles. Other forms of Corintian pyxyde inclue the Type II: Low Concave-sided pyxis[17] dated around the 5th and 4th centuries BC and the Type III: High Concave-sided pyxis[18] dated ca. late 7th century BC

Gallery[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ [1]Folsom, Robert (1967). Handbook Of Greek Pottery. p. 183.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  2. ^ Roberts 1978, p. 4.
  3. ^ a b c Roberts 1978, p. 2.
  4. ^ Folsom 1967, p. 180. sfn error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFFolsom1967 (help)
  5. ^ Folsom 1967, p. 181. sfn error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFFolsom1967 (help)
  6. ^ Perseus Encyclopedia, Pyxis
  7. ^ Lyons 2009, p. 166.
  8. ^ Lyons 2009, p. 171.
  9. ^ Lyons 2009, p. 173.
  10. ^ Lemos, Irene S (2003-01-09), "Protogeometric Pottery Found in the Eastern Mediterranean", The Protogeometric Aegean, Oxford University PressOxford, pp. 228–229, ISBN 978-0-19-925344-9, retrieved 2024-06-11
  11. ^ Lemos, Irene S (2003-01-09), "Protogeometric Pottery Found in the Eastern Mediterranean", The Protogeometric Aegean, Oxford University PressOxford, pp. 228–229, ISBN 978-0-19-925344-9, retrieved 2024-06-11
  12. ^ Sparkes, Brian A. (1991). Greek pottery : an introduction. Internet Archive. Manchester ; New York : Manchester University Press ; New York : Distributed exclusively in the USA and Canada by St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-0-7190-2236-4.
  13. ^ ROBERT FOLSOM (1967). Handbook Of Greek Pottery ( 1967] By ROBERT FOLSOM.
  14. ^ ROBERT FOLSOM (1967). Handbook Of Greek Pottery ( 1967] By ROBERT FOLSOM.
  15. ^ ROBERT FOLSOM (1967). Handbook Of Greek Pottery ( 1967] By ROBERT FOLSOM.
  16. ^ ROBERT FOLSOM (1967). Handbook Of Greek Pottery ( 1967] By ROBERT FOLSOM.
  17. ^ R., G. M. A. (1908-08). "White Athenian Pyxis". The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin. 3 (8): 154. doi:10.2307/3252705. ISSN 0026-1521. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ ROBERT FOLSOM (1967). Handbook Of Greek Pottery ( 1967] By ROBERT FOLSOM.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Roberts, Sally (1978). The Attic Pyxis. Ares Publishers.
  • Folsom, Robert (1967). Handbook Of Greek Pottery. New York Graphic Society Ltd.
  • Lyons, Claire (2009). "Nikosthenic pyxides between Etruria and Greece". In Oakley, John; Palagia, Olga (eds.). Athenian Potters and Painters Volume II. Oxbow Books. pp. 166–180. ISBN 978-1-84217-350-3.
  • Sparkes, Brian A. (1991). Greek Pottery: An Introduction. Manchester ; New York : Manchester University Press ; New York : Distributed exclusively in the USA and Canada by St. Martin's Press
  • Dickinson, Oliver (1994). The Aegean Brone Age. Cambridge University Press
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