Pinax

A Pinax (plural Pinakes, from Ancient Greek πίναξ pinax board, waxed [ wood ] panel, paintings, picture) was called in ancient Greece a sheet of wood, clay, marble or bronze. She served painted as a votive gift for deities and also as a writing surface ( chalkboard ). Such panel paintings were attached with nails on the walls of buildings grave.

According to Vitruvius called temple premises, but also from private rooms in which Pinakes were kept, picture galleries. Later this name was also used north of the Alps for art galleries.

Pinakes include the National Museum in Athens, in the art-historical museum in Vienna and in the antiquities collection of the National Museums in Berlin to see ( " grave tablets of Exekias "). The known specimens date from the 8th to 6th century BC, and are usually 30 to 65 cm high.