Pithos

The pithos ( ancient Greek πίθος [f ] pithos ), plural pithoi ( πίθοι pithoi ), is a large storage jar of antiquity, for example, for wine, oil or grain, which occurred throughout the Mediterranean cultural area, but especially in the Aegean and Crete. The preparation of such up to man tall vases or jars required special skills of the potter.

The pithos is a large (sometimes even more than man- high ), thick-walled, bulbous storage vessel made ​​of clay similar to an amphora, but usually with a flat bottom that often leads to eyebolts in the top half. They have been drawn by cables, with which the Pithos could be moved. Its surface can be different color, smooth and structurally or by banding pattern. Contrasting there pithoi of beige, beige, brown and red ocher. The painted pithoi of the Minoan Kamarestils show fish.

Pithoi were also used for burial ( Child Skeleton of Kritsa ), but primarily olive oil, water, honey, salt and grain was stored in them. 47 pithoi for wine were found eg in a basement in Zich Agora buried. In eight cases, in addition to the pithoi flat roof tiles ( Solene ) were discovered, which were probably used as a lid. Two of them showed traces of a clay mass, seen on the stamps were. On the stamp the image of a lion must have been. It follows that one has the pithoi also sealed.

Similar vessels are called: Dolium ( roman, majority Dolia ) and Tinaja ( Spanish). The philosopher Diogenes is the legend who temporarily lived in a pithos.