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Basket Ket PDF
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Image List
Figure 1: White ground Lekythos, Plate XXII from Murray, A.S. & A. H. Smith,
1896. White Athenian Vases in the British Museum. London.
Figure 4: White ground Lekythos, Tamokrates Painter, Madison, WI, Elvehjem Art
Centre: EAC 70.2. In: Kurts, D.C., 1975. Athenian White Lekythoi Patterns
and Painters. Oxford. Pg. 34.
Figure 5: Red-figure kylix, Colmar Painter, Plate 36 in Richter, G., 1936. Red-
Figured Athenian Vases in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New Haven.
Figure 7: Red-figure cup, Paris, Musée du Louvre: G133. In: Villanueva-Puig, M.,
1992. Images de la Vie Quotidienne en Grèce dans L’antiquité. Paris. Pg. 64.
Figure 9: Red-figure lebes, St. Petersburg, State Hermitage Museum: P1906.175 in:
Cohen, B., 2014. ‘Baskets, Nets, Cages Indicia of Spatial Illusionism in
Athenian Vase Painting’. In J .Oakley (ed) Athenian Potters and Painters III.
Oxford. Pg. 36.
Figure 10: Red-figure Lekythos, Paris, Musée du Louvre: CA 2567. In: Villanueva-
Puig, M., 1992. Images de la Vie Quotidienne en Grèce dans L’antiquité.
Paris. Pg. 115.
Figure 11: Red-figure stamnos, Paris, Musée du Louvre: G407. In: Villanueve-Puig,
M., 1992. Images de la Vie Quotidienne en Grèce dans L’antiquité. Paris. Pg.
138.
Figure 12: Red-figure psykter, Malibu, CA, J. Paul Getty Museum, Villa Collection,
Gift of Herbert L. Lucas: 83.AE.285. In: Cohen, B., 2014. ‘Baskets, Nets,
Cages Indicia of Spatial Illusionism in Athenian Vase Painting’. In J .Oakley
(ed) Athenian Potters and Painters III. Oxford. Pg. 33.
Figure 14: Red-figure cup tondo, Boston, Museum of Fine Arts, H.L. Pierce Fund:
01.8024. In: Villanueva-Puig, M., 1992. Images de la Vie Quotidienne en
Grèce dans L’antiquité. Paris. Pg. 75.
Figure 16: Red-figure column krater, Orchard Painter, Plate 87 In: Richter, G., 1936.
Red-Figured Athenian Vases in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New Haven.
Figure 17: Red-figure cup, Compiègne, Musée Vivenel: 1090. In: Villanueva-Puig,
M., 1992. Images de la Vie Quotidienne en Grèce dans L’antiquité. Paris. Pg
94.
Figure 20: Red-figure lebes fragment, Paris, Musée du Louvre: CA 1679. In:
Villanueva-Puig, M., 1992. Images de la Vie Quotidienne en Grèce dans
L’antiquité. Paris. Pg. 128.
Figure 21: Modern Sardinian fish traps. In: Bichard, M., 2008, Baskets in Europe.
Abingdon. Pg. 232. Photograph by author.
Figure 22: Modern maunds from Corinth, 2001. In: Bichard, M., 2008, Baskets in
Europe. Abingdon. Pg. 232. Photograph by author.
Figure 23: Arm basket, In: Bichard, M., 2008, Baskets in Europe. Abingdon. Pg. 234.
Photograph by: Museum Falteitz, Skryos and HOMMEH.
Figure 24: Donkey paniers, In: Novellino, D. & Z. Fusun Ertug, 2006. “Baskets of the
World” the Social Significance of Plaited Crafts, Proceedings of the IVth
International Congress of Ethnobotany. Istanbul. Pg. 663.
Figure 25: Bronze donkey carrying paniers, Roman, British Museum, inv.
1868,0520.50. Photo is my own.
Acknowledgements
A huge thank you to Professor Judith M. Barringer for her supervision and feedback
and to Professor David J. Schenker and Dr. David M. Lewis for their help in
navigating the literary sources and for checking my translations. I could not have
done this without their help. I am also very grateful to both The British School at
Athens and the American School of Classical Studies at Athens for the use of their
incredible libraries.
Abbreviations
A Basket Case Study: Attic Basketry from Iconography to
Production
Introduction
Artisans and craftsmen are once more the topic of increased attention by
historians and archaeologists alike.1 Within this area of interest both literary and
approach is best illustrated in E.M. Harris’ important 2002 study, which collects some
170 occupation terms, many of them artisans2, but basket-makers do not feature
among his list. On the other hand, the archaeological approach comprises two strands:
comprised of either (i) foundries or (ii) potteries – as basket weaving would usually
leave no trace in the archaeological record in the manner that forms of production
involving kilns and forges would. Baskets were made of organic material and
reflect the original material in form. 5 In addition to this indirect evidence, useful
1
Blondé & Muller (1998); Pipili (2000); Harris (2002); Tsakirgis (2005); Sobak (2009); Jockey
(2009); Lewis (2010); Hasaki (2012); Sanidas (2013); Gills (2014); Hochsheid (2015); Flohr
&Wilson (2016); Ruffing (2016).
2
Harris (2002).
3
Sanidas (2013).
4
Trinkl (2014), 193. For exceptions see Belogianno (2006), 290-5 for baskets found at Akrotiri;
and just as with papyrus documents, the Egyptian climate seems to be far more conducive than
that of Greece to the preservation of baskets; see Wills & Hacke (2010).
5
Unruh (2007); Betancourt (1990), 73-7; Lebegyev (2010), 101-03. For an archaeological
example see the impression left by a carrying net on an Attic red-figure alabastron: BAPD
207244.
6
information can be gained through the iconographic depictions of baskets on Attic
vases.
noting that the large majority of scenes of craftsmen and artisans depicted on vases
etc.—but no image represents the production of baskets, and therefore basketry is left
out of the study on the iconography of artisans by Ziomecki, as well as in the more
recent studies by Vidale and Chatzidimitriou.6 We know baskets were produced and
utilized for a number of various functions due to their ubiquity in both vase
iconography and literary sources, but the production and sale of these versatile
containers remains a neglected facet of the Attic artisan economy. Whilst numerous
studies have been devoted to other containers such as pottery7, there is relatively little
work on basketry. This study, then, is intended as a contribution toward filling this
void.
and the iconographic evidence collected from painted pottery that relates to Attic
basketry. Given restrictions of space, I have not expanded my study to the genres of
stone relief or epigraphy; though important, these are less promising genres than those
that I have chosen to focus upon. A truly comprehensive study, though, would require
a thorough study of these genres as well. First, this dissertation aims to establish the
ubiquity of baskets in classical Athenian life, and particularly the oikos, thereby
giving a rough sense of the level of demand for baskets and therefore indicating
whether or not basketry was a marginal craft or was rather a commonplace form of
6
J. Ziomecki (1975); M. Vidale (2002); A. Chatzidimitriou (2005). See also S. Lewis (2010);
Pipili (2000).
7
See for example the bibliography provided with the Beazley Archive online:
http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/tools/bibliographies/pottery/shapes.htm'
7
production. For the iconographic sources, I have conducted a thorough search of the
Beazley archive and compiled a list of vases in which baskets appear, noting their
shape and use. For the literary sources, I have used a reverse English to Greek search
function to compile a full list of Greek terms relating to baskets, and then input each
of these into Thesaurus Lingua Graecae to gather a complete list of references from
classical Attic texts. Each of these references has been examined in context, noting
the function of the baskets mentioned. From there, I investigate the issue of
production, for which we have significantly less evidence. There is a term for basket-
weaver, oisourgos, but it is found only once in classical Attic literature (Eupolis fr.
192 K-A); to this, references to the materials from which baskets were woven in
adjacent crafts, such as garland weaving, that can provide clues about how basketry
may have been produced in Athens. Lastly, I will consider ethnographic parallels to
investigate the techniques and effort required to produce the sort of baskets which
would have existed in classical Attica. Hopefully, the results of this research will
provide a detailed view of the range of uses and forms of baskets in everyday life in
Athens and add a new facet to the diverse catalogue of craft occupations in classical
Attica.
review and sketches the present state of scholarship on ancient Greek basketry.
Chapter 2 sets out the evidence of Athenian textual sources to study the forms and
which adds the iconographic evidence from painted pottery in order to investigate the
8
Basketry is not, however, discussed in Amigues (2007), which surveys the use of vegetal
products based on the evidence of Theophrastus, who does mention basketry, if only in passing.
8
Chapter 4 uses this material to draw several conclusions on the ubiquity of baskets in
transportation of goods overland, fish traps, etc., illustrating the level of demand for
ethnographic approach and a study of adjacent forms of production. It will also look
at the materials used to make baskets and consider their availability in the urban and
rural environments, and the effect that had on the form of production (domestic
production for immediate domestic use or production for sale on the market). Finally,
in one place the remarkable quantity of visual evidence (baskets are represented on
well over one thousand Athenian vases). Many of these scenes, though, are generic
and the table allows a full presentation of the evidence, whilst allowing us to capture
I. Previous Literature
Surprisingly little work has been done on the basketry and wickerwork of ancient
Greece. Save for a precious few key studies9, this craft seems to be for the most part
unexplored. However, this lack of research may be due to the absence of basketry
baskets.10 Unlike sculpture, pottery, or metallurgy, which all leave behind traces of
their craft,11 baskets, do not. Instead, baskets were made of organic materials which
9
Schlep (1975); Efthymiou-Chatzilacou (1980); Betancourt (1990); Connor & Jackson (2000);
Novellino & Fusun Ertug (2006); Bichard (2008); Lebegyev (2010); Wills & Hacke (2010);
Cohen (2014); Trinkl (2014); Lebegyev (2015).
10
Willis and Hacke (2010).
11
Cf. Tsakirgis (2005). Discussed are three houses to the SW of the Athenian Agora in which
evidence of workshops was discovered. Among the finds were numerous short iron nails and bone
eyelets which were interpreted by the excavator, Dorothy Thompson, as indicative of a cobbler’s
9
deteriorate and over time disintegrate completely leaving little to no physical evidence
by Judit Lebegyev traces these impressions in the context of Geometric Attica and
replicas, for which existing baskets were used, and imitations, which are basically
copies in clay of a basket original.13 For the production of replica baskets, the existing
baskets were used as moulds by pressing soft clay into the interior surface of the
clay vase.14 Based on the surface patterns of these vases, the original baskets were
probably made of tightly-woven grassy fibres such as esparto grass or cereal straw,
made by a simple twining technique in which two weavers are twisted around the
stationary strands (known as warps). This technique resulted in the smooth surface
onto which the soft clay could easily be pressed.15 Distribution of these replicas is
exemplified by more than twenty finds throughout Attica, thirteen of which were
copying likely sprang up locally and became popular in the surrounding areas but did
workshop. Additionally, a large amount of marble chips was found along with unfinished
sculpture, sculptor’s tools including a bone stylus, lead strips, a stone pounder, and a faceted piece
of pumice indicative of a sculptor’s workshop.
12
Trinkle (2014). For baskets and their function as moulds for clay vessels see Unruh (2007);
Betancourt (1990); cf Lebegyev (2010). For an example of such indentations, see net marks left on
an Attic red figure alabastron: BAPD 207244.
13
Lebegyev (2010), 101.
14
Lebegyev (2010), 102.
15
Lebegyev (2010), 103.
16
Lebegyev (2010), 103.
10
As for imitation copies, some vases can be considered translations of basket
shapes and/or feature basket-like surface treatment of the clay, though no existing
baskets were used in their production. Generally, these imitations are a simple
handleless shape that is relatively small in size, either wheel or handmade and has
short flaring sides, a flat base, and features painted decoration on the interior or
exterior that is reminiscent of woven reeds.17 The painted geometric patterns can be
either very rudimentary or quite complex and can include the standard Greek
meander, key-pattern, swastikas, and crosshatching. Even John Boardman agrees that
the inspiration behind these designs is likely wickerwork” or even fabric weaving
which produces similar patterns.18 This imitation basket vase type is represented in an
even smaller number than the basket replicas and may be considered a simpler,
discount version.19 Fortunately, further information about the original baskets can be
gleaned both through references to their shape and function within Athenian textual
For this chapter I conducted a reverse English to Greek search for basket terms
using Perseus, eliminating all post-classical words, then used TLG to compile a full
list of references where this vocabulary is employed. Here, I set out the individual
terms and look at how their usage in Athenian texts sheds light on their functions. For
each entry, I give the definition found in LSJ, then move on to discuss the term in
17
Lebegyev (2010), 105.
18
Boardman (2001), 17.
19
Lebegyev (2010), 105.
11
more detail, examining its original literary context.20 I list each basket term in
Aristophanes’ Birds (1309): a herald arrives proclaiming the popularity of the new
City of the Birds, and says that ten thousand people have arrived looking for feathers
and hooked claws so that they can join it as new citizens. Pisthetaerus then tells his
slaves to go find every basket (arrhichos) they can and fill them with wings, in order
to cash in on the demand. Obviously, this is a joke, related to the absurd plot of the
Athenaeus (4.139c), though writing much later, writes that arrhichoi were used to
carry bread into the Spartan messes. This term was therefore probably a generic one
γυργαθός, ‘wicker basket, creel.’ This seems to be a relatively rare term. It appears
baskets-full and heaps of decrees’ which may be a snippet from a joke but is
is Aristotle’s description (HA 555b10) of a spider’s web, using the basket word
θυλακίσκος. LSJ defines this word as ‘bread basket.’ However, it is a diminutive of
thulakos, ‘sack,’ and it is hard to tell from its usage if it really was a basket or a sack.
A fragment of Aristophanes (fr. 557 K-A = Poll. Onom. 10.151) reads ‘then he went
to the fish market with his basket (spuris) and his thulakiskos and his great big purse.’
Presumably the thulakiskos is to be used for transporting the fish, but there is no
Crates I (fr. 16 K-A = Athen. 267e) talks about household objects being animated and
performing their roles without human aid and the thulakiskos, specifically, is told to
knead (so it must contain flour) but again whether it is a cloth sack or a closely-
especially associated with wool working. A fragment of Eupolis (fr. 242 K- A = Poll.
7.29) reads ἄνευ καλαθίσκων καὶ πόρων καὶ πηνίων, ‘without kalathiskoi and wool
and spindles.’ The same association between wool working and the kalathos is found
spindle and kalathos as typical female domestic items, whilst the term kalathiskos is
used as part of a wool-working metaphor at Lys. 579. A similar passage appears in the
Thesmophoriazusae in which the chorus leader compares the items of the male world
(spears, shields) to those of the domestic, female world (kalathiskoi, sunshades, etc.,
Thesm. 822). Like the term arrhichos (see above), a kalathos of bird wings appears in
a scene of the Birds (Av. 1325). Apollophanes (fr. 1 K-A = Athen. 11.467f) refers to a
13
καλαθηφόρος, ‘basket-carrying.’ Καλαθηφόροι is the title of a lost play by Eubulus
(fr. 39 K-A)
κάνεον, Attic contraction κανοῦν, ‘basket of reed or cane.’ This word goes back to
Homer (e.g. Il. 9.217; Od. 17.343). It is frequently employed for the basket that forms
part of the standard set of equipment used at an animal sacrifice. It is found in this
context in Euripides (Eur. Electra 800, 810, 1142; Hercules 926, 941, Iphigenia in
Aulis 435, 1470, 1565, 1569), and also in oratory (Dem. 22.78; 24.186; [Dem.] 59.78;
Aeschin. 3.120; Lycurgus fr. 7 Against Lycophron). The same association is seen in
comedy. A fragment of Nicostratus’ play The Couch (fr. 13 K-A = Athen. 3.11c) tells
of a large loaf called a nastos that peeked up over the rim of the sacrificial kanoun.
Aristophanes includes a kanoun in several sacrificial scenes (Ar. Ach. 244, 253; Pax
947, 956; Av. 43, 850, 863-4). A fragment of Diphilus (fr. 89 K-A) compares a fully
ὀνάριον ἐξ ἀγροῦ µοι καταβαίνει καθ’ ἕκαστον ἐνιαυτὸν ἀγαπητῶς ὡσπερεὶ κανοῦν
µοι πάντ’ ἐνεσκευασµένον σπονδήν, ὀλάς, ἔλαιον, ἰσχάδας, µέλι); ‘once a year a little
donkey goes from my farm, sparsely equipped like a sacrificial basket: libation,
barley-grains, oil, figs, honey.’ A fragment of Plato Comicus (fr. 98 K-A) has a
character demand that the sacrificial basket be brought, and asks where the knife is
inside it. Similar scenes can be found in the plays of Menander (Dyscolus 440;
he has been celibate for two days, enough to qualify him to carry a kanoun in a sacred
religious procession, is well attested. In one historical story, the sister of Harmodius
14
acted as a basket bearer in the Panathenaic procession before doubts were cast on her
Aristogeiton (Thuc. 6.56; [Arist.] Ath.Pol. 18.2). Processional basket bearers are
attested in Aristophanes’ comedies (Ar. Ach. 242, 260; Lys. 646, 1193; Eccl. 732; Av.
1551), and a fragment of Hermippus (fr. 25 K-A) notes their powdery appearance, as
they are covered in barley dust. Processional basket bearers are also mentioned by
Plato (Hipparchus 229c2) and Lycurgus (fr. 7, Against Lycophron); and lost plays
named Kanephoros are attributed to Anaxandrides (fr. 22 K-A) and Menander (frgs.
196-200 K-A). What is strikingly consistent in all of these references is the religious
sacrificial context.21
fragment of Aristophanes (fr. 173 K-A) ἄλλος δ ̓ εἰσέφερε πλεκτῷ κανισκίῳ ἄρτων
περίλοιπα θρύµµατα, ‘another was bringing leftover slices of bread in a little woven
basket.’
κίστη, ‘basket, hamper.’ This seems to be a relatively common term for a multi-
play Amphiaraus (fr. 28 K-A): ‘baskets (kistai) were used not only to carry food or
hold clothing, but also by druggists, as Aristophanes says in his Amphiaraus: “and the
snakes that you supply, seal up in some basket (en kistê), and stop your drug-selling.”
The use of the kiste for medicines or drugs is also attested in a fragment of Sophocles’
21
On ancient Greek sacrifice see Naiden (2013), 39-81.
15
5.19.8, in which Medea uses a kiste to hold medicinal roots: ‘and she, looking back as
she did so, caught the white, foamy juice from the cut in bronze vessels… and the
hidden boxes (kistai) conceal the cuttings of the roots, which she, uttering loud ritual
cries, naked, was severing with bronze sickles.’ A similar purpose is found in a
fragment of Theopompus Comicus (fr. 3 K-A = Poll. 10.180): τὴν οἰκίαν γὰρ ηὗρον
εἰσελθὼν ὅλην κίστην γεγονυῖαν φαρµακοπώλου Μεγαρικοῦ; ‘When I went into the
house, I found it had become one whole medicine chest (kiste) belonging to a druggist
from Megara.’ These examples are all of dramatic scenes exaggerated for comic or
tragic effect, but the association between the kiste and medicinal herbs and roots is
Like the kanoun, the kiste could be used in a sacrificial context: Aristophanes
(Thesm. 284) has a character ordering a slave to put down a kiste and take out a cake
for an offering. Other plays by Aristophanes display a range of uses for the kiste:
Acharnians 1086 refers to a feast, bringing a basket and cup; and at line 1098 he has a
character calling for slave to bring basket at a feast. In the Knights (1211, 1216) there
are references to kistai filled with various items bought at the agora; whilst in
Lysistrata (1184) a kiste is used as a kind of picnic basket. Alongside these incidental
references to kistai, there are some obviously comic usages, such as the kiste full of
truces that the goddess Peace allegedly brought to the Athenians after their victory at
16
κόφινος, ‘basket.’ This term is exclusively associated with outdoor activities, and
seems to imply a fairly sturdy, durable basket utilized for outdoor tasks. A rather
(B.) ‘… just the same, that a basket of wine holds three choes, and in the same amount for baskets
of wheat’
The reference to a kophinos of wine makes very little sense, since a basket
would hardly work as a container for liquids, though it is believable as a container for
selling grain (like the phormos discussed earlier). Two fragments of Aristophanes
attest to other uses: fr. 363 K-A (= Poll. 7.162) reads ‘you told us to haul baskets
(kophinous) of stones up to the roof’; whilst fr. 680 K-A (= Poll. 7.134) reads ‘he’ll
get a basket and collect dung.’ Without any further context, however, it is difficult to
know whether these references are comical and unrealistic, or incidental and realistic.
The Athenians did have a system of dung collection, however, so this could possibly
be the context for fr. 680 K-A;22 and Xenophon also uses the term kophinos for a
dung basket (Mem. 3.8.6). Another outdoor task that kophinoi were used for was in
beekeeping: Aristotle (HA 629a13) says that they are used to take honey out of
beehives. Other than that, we have a fragment of Plato Comicus (fr. 41 K-A) that
Aristophanes, in a line already mentioned (see arrichos, above), orders some slaves to
fill every arrichos and kophinos they can lay hold of with wings (Av. 1310). Its
22
See Owens (1983).
17
association with the outdoors is reinforced by a line in Theophrastus’ Characters
(4.14) where the rustic man (agroikos) lends someone a plow or a sickle or a bag or a
kophinos, and asks for it back in the middle of the night, since he lacks good manners.
κύρτος, ‘weel, lobster pot.’ This term is used several times in Plato’s works. In
Plato’s Sophist (220c) there is a discussion of hunting and fishing, and the kurtos is
mentioned as a kind of trap alongside nets and snares. In Plato’s Timaeus the kurtos is
used as an analogy for the structure of animal bodies, whilst in Laws (823e) he says
that kurtoi are used as a lazy way of hunting for sea creatures. Aristotle (HA 603a)
provides more detail: ‘Two other hunting methods are also used by some people
against fishes. For because they avoid the deep water in rivers during the winter (for
in any case the fresh water is cold) people dig a trench through the dry ground into the
river; then they roof it over with grass and stones, making a sort of den that has an
exit from the river into it; and when there is a frost they catch the fishes out of it with
a wicker weel. And another method is used in summer and winter: they make a dam
with sticks and stones in the middle of the river, leaving an opening in which they fix
a weel, and so catch the fishes after taking away the stones from around the weel.’
λάρκος, ‘charcoal basket.’ This word was noted earlier in the discussion on the word
phormos, where a fragment of Lysias (fr. 192) says that a larkos is a phormos used for
carrying charcoal. The distinction between the two types, then, is due to function
rather than form. The association with charcoal is found again in two lines of
Ach. 333, 340), and in a fragment of Alexis (fr. 211 K-A = Poll. Onom. 10.111) which
reads: Ἀριστογείτονα τὸν ῥήτορ εἶδον λάρκον ἠµφιεσµένον τῶν ἀνθρακῶν); ‘I saw
18
Aristogeiton the orator wearing a larkos full of charcoal.’ A fragment of Euripides (fr.
283 TrGF) reads τοὺς ὄνους τοὺς λαρκαγωγοὺς ἐξ ὄρους οἴσειν ξύλα, ‘the donkeys
carrying charcoal baskets to bring wood from the mountain.’ In this instance, the
baskets were probably panniers as will be discussed further in the following chapters.
and comes from the verb πλέκω, ‘plait, twine.’ It can therefore be used both for
baskets and textiles. Xenophon uses the term for a kind of hunting snare, a
may mean either a sieve or a winnowing fan. However, it is used to mean ‘basket’ in
ῥιπίς. Although LSJ defines this word as ‘fan for raising the fire,’ it can be found in a
fragment of Crates I (fr. 15 K-A) with the meaning of ‘basket’: ‘in a wicker dung
Timocles (fr. 16 K-A = Athen. 8.339e) relating to the sons of Chaerephilus, a salt-fish
seller who was made an Athenian citizen in the late fourth century BC. In a recent
study, E. Lytle has shown that it was a large basket used for the transport of produce,
especially the transport of salt fish to Athens from the north of the Black Sea.23
23
Lytle (forthcoming).
19
σπυρίς, ‘large basket, creel.’ Herodotus (5.16) uses this term is used for a creel or
fish basket. Aristophanes (fr. 427 K-A) speaks of a spuris of eels; and again in the
Peace (1005) he mentions spurides of eels being imported from Lake Copais in
Boeotia. As noted above (in relation to the word thulakiskos) another fragment of
Aristophanes (fr. 557 K-A) mentions a character going to the fish market with a
spuris. But the spuris could be used to contain or transport other items. A fragment of
(A.) What in the world is in these baskets (ἐν ταῖς σπυρίσι), my good friend?
The final line here is incomplete, but it is clear nonetheless that these spurides
are used to hold grains. This connection might also explain an otherwise ambiguous
fragment of Aristophanes (fr. 427 K-A = Poll. Onom. 10.172): ‘a sizeable spuris and a
punch-bag such as wakes up even the kneading boys.’ A fragment of Diphilus (fr. 60
fragment of Alexis (fr. 275 K-A = Athen. 2.49f) shows another usage in which a
suggest that the spuris, though primarily associated with the transport of fish, could be
σώρακος, ‘basket.’ This seems to be a rare term. Pollux (Onom. 9.129-30) quotes a
line of Aristophanes (fr. 259 K-A): ‘among the receptacles for fruit… we might add
the sorakos, even if that is what the comic poets call the vessel where they store the
20
actors’ props: “such woes as my prop-box collected.” The comic poet Alexis wrote a
play called the Sorakos or which a fragment is preserved by Athenaeus (fr. 221 K-A =
Athen. 3.120), but this fragment does not shed light on the basket in any way.
complaining that one of her guests has eaten all the new cheese, baskets (talaroi) and
all. A passage in the Odyssey (9.247) sheds some light on this passage: here, the
cyclops shuts Odysseus and his men into his cave; then he milks his sheep and goats,
curdles the milk, and places the curds in talaroi. These baskets, then, are used in the
cheese making process to separate the curds from the whey. Other references show a
wider use, however. Though it probably should not be taken seriously because again,
baskets would not make ideal liquid containers, a fragment of Cratinus (fr. 312 K-A =
Poll. Onom. 6.65) reads ‘your talaros will be full of fish sauce.’ However,
winter: they grow them in talaroi, water them with warm water, and bring them
(924b13) which mentions the same method for growing gourds in winter, in talaroi.
ταρσός, ‘frame of wickerwork, crate, flat basket.’ This word is also found in
Homer. In the Odyssey (9.219), the cyclops’ cheeses are stored on or in tarsoi. It
Socrates if he speculates about the sun from the vantage point of a tarsos in the sky,
looking down upon the gods. As one of the only examples in classical Athenian
literature of the usage of this term to mean ‘basket’, however, this may just be a
21
a wattle support for a mound.
ὑριχός, ‘wicker basket, hand basket.’ This seems to be another rare term which is
found in a fragment of Alexis’ lost play The Cauldron (fr. 133 K-A = Athen. 3.76d):
‘And why should we, moreover, mention those who always sell figs in baskets? They
routinely put the hard, bad figs on the bottom and the nice, ripe ones on top. Then a
guy pays what’s asked, thinking he’s being sold good ones; and the vendor pops the
coin into his mouth and sells wild figs, while swearing he’s selling the domesticated
variety.’ This suggests that buyers would purchase figs by the basket-load. It also
suggests that he would buy the basket as part of the transaction, for how else could the
fact that the bad figs were at the bottom of the basket be concealed? This suggests that
φέρνιον, ‘fish basket.’ This seems to be another rare term, though it is found in a
fragment of Menander (fr. 468 K-A): ὁ προσιὼν γέρων ἁλιεύς, παρ’ οὗ τὸ φέρνιον
τρίτην ταύτην ἐπριάµεθ’ ἡµέραν, ‘here’s the old fisherman, from whom we bought
φορµός, ‘basket for carrying corn.’ This term was used as a rough measure, and
appears in Lysias’ speech Against the Corn Dealers (22.5-6), which refers to a law
that forbade individuals from buying more than 50 phormoi of corn. A. Bresson
argues that the phormos in this context was not a basket, but a sack, though nobody
knows precisely what volume such a sack or basket held.24 The term appears again in
24
Bresson (2015), 495.
22
Καλλιππίδην. λάρκος ἐστὶ φορµὸς εἰς ὃν ἄνθρακας ἐνέβαλλον. ‘Larkos: Lysias in his
For Kallipides. A larkos is a basket (phormos) in which charcoal is put.’ This term
Thesmophoriazusae, the chorus leader explains at length why women are more
worthy to lead the state than men saying that whilst men embezzle large sums of
public money, the worst women do is steal a phormos of corn from their husbands,
and even then, they return it to them later in the day (Ar. Thesm. 813). The term
appears again in this play at line 1007, when Mnesilochus has been caught entering
the Thesmophoria and is tortured by a Scythian archer. The archer says that he will
find a phormos (here spelled πορµός) to lie on so as to keep watch over him. This
would seem to show the appropriation of a common domestic basket for use as a
makeshift seat or mat. A similar usage is conveyed in Wealth line 542, when the
miserable conditions of the poorest citizens are described. Among other things, the
poorest sort of citizen has to make do with a rotten phormos instead of a rug (tapes).
We also possess a brief but uninformative fragment of Aristophanes that has the two
words φορµῷ σχοινίνῳ, ‘with a plaited phormos’ (fr. 168 K-A = Poll. Onom. 9.169).
Aristotle (Rhetoric 1385a27), in discussing acts of altruism, mentions the man who
gave another man a phormos at the Lyceum. Given the context and the earlier
references from Aristophanes, it is possible this refers to someone giving the man a
phormos as a makeshift mat to lie down upon. Theophrastus (HP 2.6.11) writes of the
dwarf palm, stating that it is common in Crete and Sicily; it has broad, flexible leaves
and is used to make spurides (see above) and phormoi. Whilst that phormoi were
probably not always made from this specific material, the mention of flexibility holds
the key to resolving the issue of whether the phormos was a sack or a basket. The idea
of a rigid wicker basket makes no sense in the above contexts. It would not be
23
comfortable to sit on, and grain would run through the gaps in its meshwork.
However, a more flexible, sack shaped kind of basket made from pliable materials
makes better sense, since it could easily be used as a makeshift mat, and could be
used to contain grain if it were closely woven. As we will see below, it is probable
that the larkos mentioned by Lysias for carrying charcoal was very similar in design
φορµίς, diminutive of φορµός: In the Wasps (58), Aristophanes has his character
Xanthias introduce the play and say that there won’t be any fancy features such as a
slave throwing nuts to the audience ἐκ φορµίδος, ‘from a small basket.’ A fragment of
the later comic poet Alexis (fr. 311 K-A) mentions a φορµὶς ἰσχάδων, a ‘basket of
dried figs’, which suggests a similar usage. On the other hand, Aristotle (HA 547a2)
uses the word for a fish trap, whilst Plato (Lys. 206e) says that boys who play
This knucklebone bag or basket has been identified in scenes from Athenian painted
pottery.25
III. Iconography
Despite the relative lack of scholarly interest in basketry, this is far from a lack of
source material; in fact, baskets are depicted extremely frequently in Attic painted
the online Beazley Archive Pottery Database (BAPD) using the keyword “basket”
which yielded over 1300 examples. A lot of these examples appear in generic sort of
scenes, which I have organized in Table 1 and will refer to throughout this section.
Baskets can be used in numerous ways and exist in a variety of assorted shapes. The
form and shape of each basket is naturally correlated to its function appearing with or
without a lid, with a circular, square or oval base, cylindrical or rectangular body,
with or without handle or feet. Some baskets are made for a very specific purpose,
which is indicated by their distinctive shape; for instance fish traps, or the kanoun.26
In addition to the wide array of basket shapes, the fabrication adds another
variable to the equation. A general distinction can be drawn between rigid and soft
baskets. Rigid baskets are often strengthened at the four corners by wooden support
rods and have a base supported by crossed rods which lend stability to the basket.27
Generally, baskets used for transporting agricultural crops tend to be rigid (such as the
modern maunds discussed chapter 4), while those used for carrying heavy loads, for
instance on a skeuophorion or anaphoron (i.e. carrying pole)28, are more flexible. The
26
Trinkl (2014), 191; Schlep (1975).
27
Novellino and Fusun-Ertung (2006), 622-3.
28
Skeuophorion: Ar. fr. 886 K-A; Plato Comicus fr. 50 K-A; Anaphoron: Ar. Ran. 8; Asilla:
Arist. Rhet. 1.7.32. See Chatzdimitriou (2008) for discussion of land transport and the use and
depiction of these carrying poles.
29
Cohen (2014) details the difficulty in differentiating variations of woven wickerwork and
netting on painted pottery. The methods of portraying these items are described chronologically
through black figure and later red, contrasting that of Exekias, in which diagonally hatched lines
are incised on curved black-glazed silhouettes with that of the Amasis Painter who instead
indicates baskets by broad cross-hatching of black painted on the reserve.
25
The Shapes
The shape on which the most research exists is the kalathos, or wool-basket. It is
most widely associated with the storage of carded wool in preparation for spinning,
but can also be used to hold food, children’s toys, or flowers.30 The term kalathos is
used primarily for a basket of a specific shape, that is—a wider mouth that tapers
toward the base, usually without a lid or handles—most often made of willow rods.31
From the geometric period on, potters imitated the shape of the kalathos, though
scaled down in size. 32 The surface can be left undecorated or can be decorated with
baskets. As S. Lewis points out in her book on Athenian women, “wool working
functions as an ideological marker across all media: literature, epitaphs, and art,
marking women as virtuous and therefore tends to function as a sort of shorthand for
distinction is worth noting between scenes of work or production of spun wool and
textiles, where the subjects in the scene are actually working, and scenes of leisure or
domestic life where wool working tools are present but instead are simply functioning
as these markers. 35 For instance, in some wedding scenes the bride holds tools
30
Trinkle (2014), 191.
31
Trinkle (2014), 191.
32
Lebegyev (2010), 101-2. Miniatures known as “kalathiskoi” (see literary sources).
33
For fragments of baskets with perforated bodies from a grave of the Athenian agora: Mains,
Johannes Gutenberg University 52, BAPD 1003558
34
Lewis (2002), 62.
35
Lewis (2002), 59. It is worth noting that most vases depicting domestic scenes are not found on
shapes of pottery that are viewed as distinctly ‘female’. Shapes such as pyxides, lekythoi or lebetes
26
associated with wool working, but it is not in the act of spinning, and similarly, a
woman may sit near a kalathos but is not, in fact, working wool. 36 Below, Figure 1
shows a seated woman with a kalathos behind her on the floor. As she is not
physically involved in any wool working action, the basket here indicates an interior
domestic scene. A striking 137 domestic scenes featuring baskets are presented in
Fig. 1
White ground Lekythos, woman with kalathos
often depict scenes of marriage, leisure and revelry, while proper work appears far more often on
cups, kraters or pelikai, perhaps indicating that the purpose of domestic imagery was not to
reinforce the stereotypes of good Athenian women. Pots found within Athens show that female
buyers were instead drawn to pots depicting scenes of leisure, while domestic work is found more
often on pots intended for export.
36
Trinkl (2014), 196-7; Vidale (2002) 325-474; Harris (2015) 185-204.
27
In addition to the well discussed kalathos, other basket shapes appear
similarly, if not more frequently throughout painted pottery. One of these recurrent
shapes is a flat bottomed, rectangular, shallow basket sometimes with gently sloping
tomb or stele and contains within it fillets, ribbons, wreaths, or jars of oil. This basket
lekythoi, as one would expect given its funerary context. It is depicted on 209 vases as
show in Section I of Table 1. Interestingly, this funerary function is a context that the
literary sources do not mention, and thus highlights the value of the iconographic
evidence, which can cover gaps left in the written sources. This same rectangular,
shallow basket is also seen in scenes of wedding processions in which it is used in the
same manner as in funerary scenes- that is, used to carry ribbons, wreaths, and oil
Fig. 3 Fig. 4
White ground lekythos Toronto, White ground lekythos Madison, WI
Royal Ontario Museum: Elvehjem Art Centre: EAC 70.2.
929.22.7.
28
In symposium scenes, a round based basket of medium depth is often seen
suspended in the background by ropes which crisscross the body. This likely indicates
an interior rather than an exterior setting and acts a sort of short hand, similar to that
of kalathos in domestic scenes. This shape is also present in a variety of other interior
scenes, such as educational school scenes. Section III of Table 1 records 81 depictions
Fig. 5
Red-Figure Kylix, Colmar Painter
Fig. 6
Red-figure cup, Basel,
Antinkenmuseum und
Sammlung Ludwig: BS440,
BAPD 203338
Fig. 7
Red-figure cup, Paris, Musée du Louvre:
G133
29
The sacrificial basket, or kanoun, consists of a wide, flat base that then
may simply be stylistic. Some are seen with sides of parabola-shaped rods, sometimes
decorated with added dots (as in Fig.9); some are depicted as crude triangles, while
They are generally held near an altar or in a sacrificial procession. The many stylistic
varieties are all included and appear on 66 vases as seen in section V of Table 1.
Fig. 8 Fig.9
Red-figure pelike, Berlin, Red-figure lebes, The State Hermitage
Antikensammlung: F2171, BAPD 206706 Museum, St. Petersburg: P1906.175
Fig. 10 Fig. 11
Red-figure Lekythos, Paris, Red-figure stamnos, Paris, Musée du
Musée du Louvre: CA2567 Louvre: G407
30
Hunting37 and fishing baskets depicted tend to vary in both size and shape, and
are similarly artistically rendered to large nets as seen in Figure 12. Smaller, round
bottomed baskets with handles for carrying the fish caught as in Figure 14 and Figure
15 side A (or carried on a skeuophorion in Figure 15 side B38) are the most common.
Other very specific shapes such as the submerged fish trap also depicted in Figure 14,
which has clearly delineated horizontal rods within it to help it maintain its shape, as
well as a distinctive circular opening at the top. Hunting and fishing scenes appear in
a mere 4 vases in section VIII of Table 1, though the three images listed below,
Figure 12 featuring the fishermen with a large tangle of net, 13 featuring a hare
running into a large wicker trap, and 14 depicting a boy holding both a fishing rod and
small handheld basket crouching over a submerged fish trap, are not included in my
table.
37
For more on the iconography of hunting see Barringer (2001) 96-8, in which other examples of
net traps are discussed.
38
Chatzidimitriou, (2008).
31
Fig. 14 Red- figure cup tondo, Boston, Museum of Fine Arts, H.L. Pierce
Fund: 01.8024 From: Villaneuva-Puig, (1992)
Agricultural and vintage baskets are usually depicted as either large, very
deep, and are positioned on the ground beneath the tree; or smaller and handled,
carried by the fruit pickers. In the case of vintage baskets, these can be similarly large
and deep, or instead, feature a flat bottom and are perched on elevated tables in which
the grapes are trod, usually by satyrs, in order for the juice to run down a spout into a
32
second container on the ground. These scenes appear on 29 vases in section VII of
Table 1.
Fig. 17
Red-figure cup, Compiègne, Musée
Vivenel: 1090.
Fig. 18
Black-figure amphora type B,
Basel, Antikenmuseum Basel
Und Sammlung Ludwig:
Kä 420.
33
The rather broad category of komos scenes is best described as men or youths
these scenes, the round based basket is often depicted hanging in the background (as
in the symposia scenes), along with baskets fixed with over-the-shoulder straps
carried on the back like a pack; smaller rounded baskets suspended from a staff;
handled baskets; handled baskets with feet; and flat, circular serving baskets. The
forms depicted in these scenes are as varied as the scenes themselves. 58 vases carry
Fig. 19
Black-figure lekythos with Komos scene.
Men, some with staffs, kantharos, drinking
horn, one playing pipes, dog with basket.
Syracuse, Museo Arch. Regionale
Paolo Orsi: 2287. BAPD 46922
and komos scenes, a flat, circular basket with very shallow or no sides is often
depicted being used for serving and carrying food at these functions. Satyrs, maenads,
women, or youthful attendants hold these baskets offering fruit or cakes. Again, these
scenes largely appear on vessels used for drinking and thus implies use at symposia.
34
Fig. 20 Red-figure lebes fragment
Paris, Musée du Louvre: CA 1679
The sheer number of examples and range of uses uncovered in my pottery search
was not only unexpected but truly staggering. These representations of basketry in
Athenian visual culture complement the references in the literary sources, proving
that baskets were a common and versatile kind of container used throughout ancient
Athens. The iconography set forth here, as well as more that I have surely missed,
provides precious and unique evidence for the shapes and appearances of baskets
which the literary sources cannot achieve in any precise manner. A picture is worth a
baskets were a common item in classical Athenian society, particularly within the
oikos. The versatility of these items makes them an ideal container for use across a
broad spectrum of contexts.39 Every household would have had basketry of some
kind, and likely more than one: first, women in nearly all households produced
39
Bichard (2008).
35
textiles40, so would have therefore required a kalathos. Secondly, everyone conducted
sacrifices: even the relatively poor characters we find in Aristophanes’ plays have a
kanoun. Thirdly, most of Attica’s inhabitants were farmers (Thuc. 2.14.2). Any
farmers who grew vines, vegetables, fruits, picked olives, or kept bees would have
needed baskets for their collection. Additionally, baskets were vital in transport, both
long distance (e.g. the sargane used to transport fish, or the spuris used to transport
eels from Boeotia)41 and short distance, as with the skeuophorion or anaphoron.
Furthermore, every Athenian buried their dead, so they must have also used the
absolute minimum, and it is rather more likely that average households employed
these relatively cheap and versatile containers for an even wider range of tasks.
V. Production
This brings us to the production of baskets itself. All that we possess on the
process of basket making is a passage from Pollux’s Onomasticon that quotes several
classical Athenian writers. Pollux’s text is a wordbook written in the 2nd century AD,
and its main aim is to collect classical Athenian vocabulary on a range of themes. At
the time when it was written, during the ‘Second Sophistic’, there was a high level of
interest in reproducing the Attic Greece of the 5th and 4th centuries BC.42 Pollux is
therefore a valuable resource for missing works, especially lost comedies, and many
of the comic fragments discussed in chapter 1 come from this text. In a section on
40
Harris (2015).
41
See chapter 1 for further discussion.
42
On Pollux see König (2016).
36
οἰσυπλόκος δὲ ὁ τὰς οἰσύας πλέκων· οἰσύαι δὲ αἱ λύγοι, καὶ οἰσύινα σκεύη καὶ οἰσύιναι ἀσπίδες.
τὸν δὲ οἰσυπλόκον οἰσουργὸν καλεῖ Εὒπολις. κάνναι δὲ τὸ ἐκ καννάβων πλέγµα· ῥῖπές τινές εἰσιν
ἐν Ἀριστοφάνους Σφηξίν
καὶ τὸ κανοῦν δὲ πλέγµα τι, καὶ τὸ κανίσκιον· ἐν γὰρ τῷ Γηρυτάδῃ φησὶν Ἀριστφάνης πλεκτῷ
Δαιταλεῦσιν.
Wicker-weaver (oisuplokos): he who weaves wicker: wicker (oisuai) being withies (lugoi); and
‘wickerwork items’ and ‘wicker shields.’ Eupolis (fr. 192 K-A) calls the wicker-weaver a ‘wicker-
worker’ (oisourgos). Reed mats (kannai) are woven from hemp; certain wickerwork items (rhipes)
And the kanoun is an item of wickerwork, as is the kaniskion. In the Gerytades (fr. 173 K-A)
Aristophanes says ‘in a little woven basket (kaniskion).’ And they used to say ‘to weave creels’;
and a creel (gurgathos) was named in Aristophanes’ Banqueters (fr. 226 K-A).
This passage is valuable because it is the only source that provides the
Athenian word for a wickerworker: oisourgos, quoting a lost play of Eupolis. But it
does not give any other details on the production of baskets. To tackle this issue, I
will therefore look at two things. First, garland weaving. This is in technical terms
very similar to basketry, as it involves weaving flexible plant fibres into a more
complex product. We have more evidence on garland making than basket making in
classical Athens, and since it is likely that basketry was produced similarly to
garlands, garland making can give us some clues about how basket making may have
37
worked. Secondly, I will look at some ethnographic evidence. There is a great deal of
continuity in this traditional craft skill, and by looking at the materials and methods
used by modern Mediterranean basket makers, we can find clues to how the same
According to Theophrastus (HP 5.6.2), the hoops of garlands were made from
mulberry or wild fig. They would then be decorated with foliage and sometimes
flowers. They were a popular item that could be bought in the agora, and
Aristophanes refers to the garland stalls in his Ecclesiazusae (302). The most useful
describes the daily routine of a poor woman whose husband died in the Peloponnesian
War, leaving her to fend for herself. She appears as a character in the comedy in order
to accuse Euripides, whom the women of Athens claim has slandered them in his
plays:
My husband died at Cyprus, leaving me five children, whom I had great trouble to bring
up by weaving garlands at the myrtle market. Anyhow, I lived as well as I could until this
wretch had persuaded the spectators by his tragedies that there were no gods; since then I
have not sold as many garlands by half. I charge you therefore and exhort you all to
punish him, for does he not deserve it in a thousand respects, he who loads you with
troubles, who is as coarse toward you as the vegetables upon which his mother reared
him? But I must back to the market to weave my garlands; I have twenty to deliver yet.
This passage suggests that garland weaving was undertaken in the agora at the
myrtle stalls. Since it is quite a simple procedure, it does not seem to have required
the same level as skill as that of some other artisans like potters or sculptors, or much
in the way of special equipment. And it looks like the woman only took up this craft
after her husband died. A similar situation is found in another of Aristophanes’ plays,
38
the Frogs (1346-51), which describes a woman who spins wool at home and then
If basket making was similar to these, then it could have been done at home,
though as I stated in the introduction, there are no vase paintings of women weaving
baskets at home, whilst there are numerous depictions of women making textiles.
Even if they were produced at home, though, this does not mean that they were
always used by their producers. N. Cahill calls domestic production for sale at market
‘household industry’, arguing that “most households produced or processed their own
food, cloth, and other staples: industries of a sort but aimed at maintaining the self-
sufficiency of the household not at creating closer economic ties with other
households in the polis. Other types of production, by contrast, were meant primarily
for the consumption outside the household, and tied the household into wider
produced normal household products such as cloth or food, but on a larger scale than
the household required. The surplus again must have been traded or sold.”44 There is
no reason to believe baskets were not a commodity produced and sold in this surplus
manner. As the skills used in their production could be learned, and as noted, required
no special equipment, baskets could have been produced domestically for domestic
use, and once the needs of the oikos were met, the surplus could have been sold in the
marketplace.
in the countryside, it may have been possible to find materials nearby from which
baskets could be woven for the household. This is especially true of straw, since a fair
amount of Attica was cropped with barley and wheat. But in the city, this cannot have
43
These passages are discussed in Brock (1994).
44
Cahill (2005), 55.
39
been practical, and like garland weavers and wool workers, it is likely that artisans
specialized in producing baskets and sold them in the agora. Many of the city’s
inhabitants were specialized in retail or artisan occupations that would not have given
them time to produce baskets at home.45 And since baskets were ubiquitous in the
Athenian oikos, most people in the city probably bought them at the agora.
Ancient Materials
Some evidence on the materials used for basketry can be found in two works
Plantarum, or Inquiry into Plants, and the De Causis Plantarum, or On the Causes of
Plants. He says in HP 5.7.7 that willow is used to make shields, and two types of
basket: the kiste and the kaneon (ἰτέᾳ δὲ πρός τε τὰς ἀσπίδας καὶ τὰς κίστας καὶ τὰ
κανᾶ καὶ τἆλλα). He mentions that kistai are also made from lime tree bark (HP
3.10.4; 5.7.5) and the bark of the bird cherry (HP 3.13.1). In Book 4.10 he discusses
the plants of Lake Copais in Boeotia – recall that in chapter 1 a reference from
Aristophanes’ Peace (1005) referring to spurides of eels being brought from Lake
Copais was noted. Theophrastus says (HP 4.10.4) that a plant called the phleos and
the sedge are useful for basketry (χρήσιµον δὲ πρὸς τὰ πλόκανα). As a wetland with
lots of reeds and canes, it is likely that many baskets were produced in this area.
plant used to make baskets (spurides), which is also found in Crete and Sicily (HP
2.6.11); even if this plant was only used for baskets in Africa, it is significant that
Theophrastus says that it was flexible and used to make spurides – this suggests that
45
See Harris (2002).
40
However, despite the value of these references, Theophrastus mentions
basketry in passing, and it is not likely that he listed every last plant used to produce
basketry. A look at modern ethnographic studies will help broaden our picture.
Ethnographic Parallels
Since there is little in the way of detailed information from the Classical
period regarding the materials and methods used for weaving, it is useful to consider
ethnographic parallels. The basketry materials and methods featured below, then,
instead reflect current work as well as that of the last century. However, these
materials and methods will be relatively consistent with those utilized in antiquity by
farmers and fishermen using the materials which grow readily in their climates.46
The typical Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy
winters naturally restricts the vegetation that will thrive in this environment. The tree
resources, then, consist of willow, chestnut, hazel, olive, and vine plus the chaste tree
and myrtle.47 Straw is usually available besides reeds and rushes wherever there is
adequate moisture. A key plant used in the craft of basketry is the Mediterranean
cane.48
Modern Materials
Basket-makers have naturally used whatever local plant materials that could
be easily grown and processed into thin, pliable strips of a sufficient length for
weaving. The desired qualities of ideal plants vary according to the type of basket
work being done (such as rigid versus flexible), but length, straightness, uniform
thickness, strength, and elasticity all remain consistently important throughout. For
coarser works, or when weaving was to be done underwater, the bark could have been
46
Bichard (2008).
47 Bichard (2008), 230.
48
Bichard (2008), 230.
41
left on. For finer works, the bark would have needed to be stripped off. In the case
that a plant produces rods that are too thick for weaving, they are split into two, three,
or four smaller strands. Much finer strands are characteristic of cereal straws, such as
wheat (Triticum) or rye (Secale), or other grasses and sedges.49 However, these
strands are too weak on their own to weave without breakage occurring, but, by
gathering thin bundles and tying them together with a strand of tougher material, a
Specific wetland plant species used for basketry include the reed (Phragimites
scirpus), the pointed rush (juncus acutus), and the exotic reed (arundo donax), which
traditions around lake Copias in Boeotia were probably different to those of Attica,
which had little marshland and therefore must have yielded different materials.
Turkey.52 The unbranched hollow stems of this cane are split lengthwise into up to six
rods which can then be smoothed and reduced to a constant width ideal for weaving.
Cane is normally used in conjunction with other rods (including brown, buff or white
willow, hazel, chaste tree, and wild olive)53. These tougher rods, then, make up the
base, side stakes, border, and handles, whilst the smoothed cane makes up the side
weaving. However, examples can be found where some or even all of the other
49
Bichard (2008).
50
Novellino & Fusun Ertug (2006), 660.
51
Novellino & Fusun Ertug (2006), 660.
52
Bichard (2008).
53 Bichard (2008), 233.
54
Bichard (2008), 233.
42
Techniques
The rudimentary skills necessary for basket weaving would have been
common knowledge amongst rural families, and the necessary tools of production
were simple.55 Collection of plant materials and weaving would have been done in the
off-season, often in winter, in order to replace basic household items which had worn
out over time. Individuals with a higher skill level could have produced a surplus for
later sale. As demand for these versatile containers grew, skillful individual basket
makerrs began to specialize in the craft for at least part of the year. Where more
formal workshops emerged, basket weaving masters would pass on their craft to
apprentices and journeymen.56 In antiquity, cities such as Athens and Piraeus exerted
a large amount of demand for baskets, and the term oisourgos noted by Eupolis
plant material available and the individual weavers’ skill level. One technique—
sewing each successive row to the one before it. Another technique involves plaiting
bundles of thin stems into multi-way braids which are then cut and sewn into the
weaving a more or less flat base, upending the stakes and weaving the sides and
finally weaving the ends of the stakes into a border and adding one or more handles.
This is termed ‘stake and strand’.”57 Homemade baskets were more often built using a
technique which began with a frame, usually formed by two hoops set at right angles.
55 Bichard (2008).
56
Novellino & Fusun Ertug (2006), 659.
57 Bichard (2008).
43
One then places the ends of shaped ribs where the hoops intersect, and weaving across
these ribs from each side, until the bottom weaver strands meet in the center.58
Usage
The finished baskets are then classified by their function and usage. The most
prominent group consists of baskets used in the house or by people in their household
activities. These range from house components such as woven wall paneling and
furnishings, like the previously mentioned woven chairs and mats, to sandals, laundry
baskets, and containers for food gathering, preparation, and storage. A second group
pertains to agriculture and the collection of crop yields, and a third category pertains
to traps utilized in hunting and fishing. Additionally, many baskets were employed in
Very specific shapes, such as the fish traps seen below in figure 21, appear to
Figure 14).
58
Novellino & Fusun Ertug (2006), 660.
59
Novellino & Fusun Ertug (2006), 660.
44
Figure 22: Man with modern, newly made maunds
made of willow with cane siding from Corinth
The agricultural forms known as maunds were made in a range of sizes from
from 35 up to 75 cm.60 These were used for transport of fruits and vegetables
including but not limited to zucchini, tangerines, tomatoes, grapes, citrus fruits and
olives; artichokes; melons; and tobacco leaves.61 However, these were not exclusively
used in the agricultural real. Other professions such as bakers, fishermen, and
beekeepers also utilized the maund, as well as housewives who used them for bread
In southwest Turkey, small arm baskets (Figure 23) were used for carrying
small, lightweight items such as eggs or herbs, and are produced using olive wood
stems as stakes, clematis weavers for the base, and cane sides. This same method of
curving the top halves of the side stakes to make a border and then down as a side
60 Bichard (2008), 232.
61
Bichard (2008), 232.
62
Bichard (2008), 232.
63
Bichard (2008), 234.
45
Lastly, donkey paniers used for carrying ceramic water containers are woven of
straw-like material, such as esparto grass, and are still used in Spain.64 An easy
parallel can be drawn to paniers of very similar construction used in antiquity and
exemplified in Figure 25 and are likely exactly the form referenced by Euripides by
VI. Conclusion
I hope that my collection of material and analysis has established that baskets
were indeed present everywhere in classical Attica, despite their absence in the
archaeological record, though, admittedly, this subject area certainly requires and
64 Bichard (2008), 663.
46
deserves further study. I hope that my contribution has at least sketched the outlines
comprehensive, but more work could be done in the future on integrating the evidence
of epigraphy and stone reliefs as well as that of terracotta figurines, none of which
were included in my research. It seems that the age old skill of basket weaving
practised in classical Greece is, in fact, probably not so different from those practiced
today in the Mediterranean by traditional basket makers. And while perhaps baskets
in the modern world have been overshadowed by metals and plastics, I would argue
these products still maintain a constant presence in homes and in shops throughout the
world.
47
Appendix I: Iconography
For this table, I have grouped together scenes that appear repeatedly and are of a
similar, specific type. While my search of the Beazley Archives yielded over 1,300
results, I have excluded from this list examples which give no insight into the function
of the basket within the scene, for example scenes that feature only a lone figure
basket containing fillets, ribbons, wreaths, oil jars, etc. standing or sitting
at tomb or stele. With a few exceptions, they tend to follow the same
general pattern with regard to their shape and size and are featured almost
exclusively on lekythoi.
48
10215 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
10617 Rectangular, Funerary Loutrophoros 450-400
shallow fragment
10661 Rectangular, Funerary Squat lekythos 450-400
shallow
10662 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 475-425
shallow
10663 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 475-425
shallow
10911 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
10913 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
11519 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 425-375
shallow
11541 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
13409 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 475-425
shallow
13443 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
13578 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
14631 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 475-425
shallow
14740 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
15459 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
16202 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 500-450
shallow
16208 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
16819 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
16820 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
16825 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
16826 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
16827 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
16929 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
16931 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
49
18487 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 475-425
shallow
19469 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
19791 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 475-425
shallow
21055 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
24337 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 475-425
shallow
29008 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
30064 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
42149 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos Not listed
shallow
43234 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
44494 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 475-425
shallow
45365 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
45366 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
203128 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 500-450
shallow
209091 Narrower at base Funerary Lekythos 475-425
than mouth, handle,
three feet,
suspended in
background
209092 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 475-425
shallow
50
209274 Narrower at base Funerary Lekythos 500-450
than mouth, handle,
three feet,
suspended in
background
209296 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 500-450
shallow
209299 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 500-450
shallow
209388 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 500-450
shallow
209422 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 500-450
shallow
209430 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 500-450
shallow
51
216336 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216348 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216356 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216365 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216368 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216377 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216382 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216384 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216385 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216386 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216396 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216399 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216409 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216419 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216421 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216426 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216428 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216434 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216435 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216437 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216438 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216446 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
52
216448 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216451 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216455 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216462 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216465 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216468 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216475 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
2166485 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216497 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216498 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216499 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216688 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216690 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216691 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216694 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216695 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216698 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216719 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216711 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216713 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216714 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216720 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216722 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216724 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
53
216725 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216727 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216731 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216747 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216749 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216750 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216751 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216753 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216756 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216758 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216759 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216761 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216762 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216766 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216779 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216780 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216781 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216782 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217599 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217601 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217604 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217607 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217609 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217610 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
54
217616 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217619 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217626 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217632 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217647 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217648 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217657 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217679 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217687 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217754 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217776 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217781 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow fragments
217805 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217819 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217824 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217826 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217827 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217843 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217846 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217850 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217854 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217858 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
217859 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos 450-400
shallow
219000 Rectangular, Funerary Skyphos 450-400
55
shallow
56
9026877 Rectangular, Funerary Lekythos Not listed
shallow
II. Wedding procession. These scenes contain the same rectangular, shallow
shape seen in funerary scenes, and are again used for holding fillets,
shallow
10634 Rectangular, Wedding procession Volute krater 550-500
shallow fragment
12754 Rectangular, Wedding procession Loutrophoros 450-400
shallow frag.
21148 Rectangular, Wedding procession Loutrophoros 450-400
medium depth frag
44026 Rectangular, Wedding procession Neck amphora 525-475
shallow, carried on
head
206322 Rectangular, Wedding procession Loutrophoros 500-450
shallow
301479 Rectangular, Wedding procession Hydria 550-500
shallow
310365 Rectangular, flat Wedding procession Neck amphora 575-525
310370 Rectangular, Wedding procession Amphora B 575-525
shallow
310375 Rectangular, Wedding procession Neck amphora 575-525
shallow
9029957 Rectangular, Wedding Hydria Not listed
medium depth
9029970 Rectangular, Wedding Lekanis lid Not listed
medium depth
background, generally of the same standard shape and size, and are
featured on drinking vessels that would have been used and are associated
with symposia.
19562 Rounded base, Symposium Figure vase 500-450
medium depth, oinochoe
suspended in
background
23944 Rounded base, Symposium Cup B 500-450
medium depth, fragment
suspended in
background
44593 Rounded base, Symposium Figure vase 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
45412 Rounded base, Symposium Cup fragment 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
200208 Rounded base, Symposium Cup B 550-500
medium depth,
suspended in
background
200421 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
200989 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 525-475
medium depth,
suspended in
background
201002 Rounded base, Symposium Cup fragment 525-475
medium depth,
suspended in
background
202693 Rounded base, Symposium Column krater 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
202723 Rounded base, Symposium Hydria 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
202763 Rounded base, Symposium Figure vase 500-450
medium depth, kantharos
suspended in
background
202764 Rounded base Symposium Figure vase 500-450
medium depth, kantharos
suspended in
background
202883 Rounded base, Symposium Column krater 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
202939 Rounded base, Symposium Stamnos 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
203338 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
203339 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
203489 1-Rounded base, Symposium Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background 2
Rounded base,
medium depth,
suspended in
background
203491 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
203534 Rounded base, Symposium Cup fragment 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
60
203707 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
203718 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
203905 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
203907 Rounded base, Symposium Cup fragments 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
203924 Rounded base, Symposium Cup fragments 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
203927 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
203929 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
203988 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
204083 Rounded base, Symposium Figure vase 500-450
medium depth, kantharos
suspended in
background
204085 Rounded base, Symposium Figure vase 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
204086 Rounded base, Symposium Figure vase 500-450
medium depth, kantharos
suspended in
background
204351 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
61
204801 Rounded base, Symposium Cup B 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
204804 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
204808 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
205046 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 500-450
medium depth, 3
suspended in
background
205103 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
205143 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
205170 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
205186 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
205273 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
205896 Rounded base, Symposium Column krater 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
206033 Rounded base, Symposium Column krater 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
206169 Rounded base, Symposium Column krater 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
62
206250 Rounded base, Symposium Column krater 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
206251 Rounded base, Symposium Column krater 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
209748 Rounded base, Symposium Cup fragments 475-425
medium depth,
suspended in
background
209754 Rounded base, Symposium Cup fragments 475-425
medium depth,
suspended in
background
209759 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 475-425
medium depth,
suspended in
background
211364 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 475-425
medium depth,
suspended in
background
211393 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 475-425
medium depth,
suspended in
background
211440 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 475-425
medium depth,
suspended in
background
211445 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 475-425
medium depth,
suspended in
background
211499 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 475-425
medium depth,
suspended in
background
212301 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 475-425
medium depth,
suspended in
background
212304 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 475-425
medium depth,
suspended in
background
63
212581 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
212625 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
212996 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 475-425
medium depth,
suspended in
background
213001 Large, rounded Symposium Cup 475-425
base, medium
depth, suspended in
background
213041 Rounded base, Symposium Cup 475-425
medium depth,
suspended in
background
213043 Rounded base, Symposium Cup fragments 475-425
medium depth,
suspended in
background
213698 Rounded base, Symposium Bell krater 475-425
medium depth,
suspended in
background
215067 Rounded base, Symposium Bell krater 450-400
medium depth,
suspended in
background
215151 Rounded base, Symposium Dinos 450-400
medium depth,
suspended in
background
218431 Rounded base, Symposium Figure vase Not listed
medium depth, kantharos
suspended in
background
275121 Rounded base, Symposium Column krater 525-475
medium depth,
under table on floor
64
275202 Rounded base, Symposium Volute krater 500-450
medium depth, fragment
suspended in
background
280251 Rounded base, Symposium Cup fragments 475-425
medium depth,
suspended in
background
9009458 Rounded base, Symposium Cup fragment Not listed
suspended in
background
65
215284 Rectangular, very Satyrs/maenads serving Bell krater 450-400
shallow
215333 Rectangular, very Serving fruit Hydria 450-400
shallow
215340 Rectangular, very Serving fruit/cakes Hydria 450-400
shallow
215343 Rectangular, very Serving fruit/cakes Pelike 450-400
shallow
215726 Rectangular, very Serving fruit/cakes Hydria 450-400
shallow
217596 Flat base, very Serving Calyx krater 425-375
shallow
218046 Flat base, very Serving fruit Calyx krater 400-300
shallow
218082 Flat base, very Serving fruit Bell krater 400-300
shallow, handle
220523 Rectangular, very Serving/carrying fruits Squat 450-400
shallow Lekythos
250147 Flat base, very Serving Skyphos 450-400
shallow
260003 Flat base, very Serving Calyx krater 400-300
shallow
260036 Flat base, very Carrying fruit/cakes Bell krater 400-300
shallow, handle
260168 Flat base, very Serving Bell krater 400-300
shallow
260190 Flat base, very Serving Bell krater 400-300
shallow
340104 Flat base, very Serving Calyx krater 400-300
shallow
9026662 Flat base, very Serving Lekythos Not listed
shallow
V. Domestic. These scenes featuring baskets are, like the previous two
much more varied. The shapes consist of: the kalathos, typically used to
but lacking the tomb or stele of the funerary scenes and thereby placing it
instead in the domestic realm; the rounded base basket which is suspended
66
in the background as in the symposium scenes; the flat, circular basket
seen in the context of serving; as well as a few others, and are categorized
21628 Rectangular, Domestic with erotes Lekanis 400-300
shallow
25061 Rectangular, Domestic, exterior- Neck amphora 450-400
medium depth women with basket,
woman with torches
31334 Kalathos Domestic Pyxis 450-400
31825 Kalathos Domestic Lekanis 450-400
fragments
45413 Rectangular, Domestic, woman and Skyphos 425-375
shallow basket sole subject fragment
201720 Kalathos Domestic interior Hydria 500-450
202026 Kalathos Domestic, wool Lekythos 500-450
working
202230 Rounded base, Domestic Stamnos 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
202759 Kalathos Domestic Figure vase 500-450
kantharos
203134 Narrower at base Domestic Alabastron 500-450
than mouth,
medium depth,
suspended in
background
203219 Narrower at base Domestic Cup 525-475
than mouth,
medium depth,
suspended in
background
68
205650 Kalathos inverted, Domestic Hydria 500-450
suspended in
background
206007 About as wide as it Domestic Pelike 500-450
is tall, thick lip,
handle, three feet
206329 Narrower at base Domestic/ Woman Pelike 500-450
than at mouth, tall, washing clothes
deep
206573 Hourglass shaped, Domestic, wool Hydria 500-450
handle working
207245 Kalathos Domestic, wool Alabastron 475-425
working
207394 Kalathos Domestic Neck amphora 475-425
207439 Tall, vertically Domestic Lekythos 475-425
rectangular, with lid
207602 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-525
shallow
207640 Kalathos Domestic, wool Neck amphora 475-425
working
207642 Kalathos Domestic Neck amphora 475-425
207769 Kalathos Domestic Lekythos 475-425
207799 Kalathos Domestic Neck amphora 475-425
208030 Kalathos Domestic, wool Lekythos 475-425
working
208034 Kalathos Domestic, wool Lekythos 475-425
working
208056 Kalathos Domestic, wool Lekythos 475-425
working
208057 Kalathos Domestic, wool Lekythos 475-425
working
208170 Rounded base, wide Domestic Lekythos 475-425
lip, handle, three
feet, suspended in
background
208264 Kalathos Domestic, wool Lekythos 475-425
working
208932 Kalathos Domestic Alabastron ~425
209042 Kalathos Domestic, wool Lekythos 475-425
working
209103 Narrower at base Domestic Pelike 475-425
than mouth, thick
lip, handle, feet
209185 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
209186 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow, handle
69
209188 Kalathos Domestic Lekythos 475-425
209191 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
209199 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
209859 Kalathos Domestic Hydria 475-425
210013 Kalathos Domestic Cup fragment 475-425
210116 Wide flat base, Domestic Cup C 475-425
petal-like sides
210139 1- Square, handle, Domestic interior Cup 475-425
three feet,
suspended in
background 2-
kalathos
210164 Rounded base, Domestic, washing Cup 475-425
medium depth, scene
suspended in
background
210168 Rounded base, Domestic Cup 485-425
medium depth,
suspended in
background
211243 Narrower at base Domestic Cup 475-425
than mouth, handle,
three feet
212212 Rectangular, Domestic Cup 475-425
shallow
212444 Rectangular, Domestic Cup 475-425
medium depth
213019 Kalathos Domestic Cup 475-425
213488 Kalathos Domestic, wool work Hydria 475-425
213922 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
213941 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
213944 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
213945 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
213948 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
213950 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
213953 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
213954 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
213965 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
70
213966 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
213973 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
213984 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
213994 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
213995 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
213996 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
214000 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
214007 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
214025 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
214032 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
214033 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
214304 Hourglass shaped, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
handle, three feet
214322 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
214393 Hourglass shaped, Domestic Hydria 475-425
handle, three feet
214534 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 475-425
shallow
214564 Kalathos Domestic Hydria 475-425
214979 1- kalathos 2- Domestic Hydria 475-425
rectangular, shallow
215027 Rectangular, Domestic Hydria 450-400
shallow fragments
215246 Kalathos Domestic Hydria 450-400
215859 1- kalathos 2- Domestic Lekythos 450-400
rectangular, shallow
215877 Rectangular, flat Domestic Lekythos 450-400
216183 Kalathos Domestic, wool work Hydria 475-425
216346 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216476 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos 450-400
shallow
216646 Kalathos Domestic Pyxis 450-400
217314 Kalathos Domestic Pyxis 450-400
71
217492 Square, medium Domestic, wedding Hydria 425-375
depth
72
9027974 Rectangular, Domestic Lekythos Not listed
shallow
9029957 Rectangular, Domestic, wedding Hydria Not listed
medium depth
9029970 Rectangular, Domestic, wedding Lekanis lid Not listed
medium depth
9034938 Rounded base, Domestic Lekythos Not listed
medium depth,
suspended in
background
VI. Sacrificial. These scenes depict a man or woman holding a fairly standard
sides protruding up from the flat base, over or near an altar. Additional
funerary contexts as well as the circular flat basket utilised for serving or
14663 Deep, rounded base, Sacrificial Skyphos 525-475
scalloped mouth
edges
208098 Wide flat base, Sacrificial Lekythos 475-425
petal-like sides
208099 Wide flat base, Sacrificial Lekythos 475-425
petal-like sides
220589 Wide flat base, Sacrificial Chous 450-400
petal-like sides
220599 Wide flat base, Sacrificial Squat lekythos 450-400
petal-like sides
220611 Wide flat base, Sacrificial Squat 450-400
petal-like sides Lekythos
230419 Wide flat base, Sacrificial Lebes 400-300
petal-like sides
274069 Flat base, petal-like Sacrificial Lekythos 475-425
sides
275155 Flat base, petal-like Sacrificial Column krater 500-450
sides
275277 Wide flat base, Sacrificial Pelike 500-450
petal-like sides
275400 Wide flat base, Sacrificial Cup 475-425
triangular sides
301332 Wide flat base, Sacrificial Neck amphora 550-500
rounded petal-like
sides
330075 Wide flat base, Sacrificial Oinochoe 550-500
petal-like sides
330861 Wide flat base, Sacrificial Oinochoe 525-575
petal-like sides
1010227 Flat base, scalloped Sacrificial Lekythos Not listed
sides
9031731 Flat base, triangular Sacrificial Lekythos Not listed
sides
VII. Komos/youth. In these scenes, the rounded base basket depicted hanging
in the background as in symposia scenes are noted, along with baskets
fixed with over-the-shoulder straps carried on the back like a pack; smaller
with feet; and flat, circular serving baskets. The forms depicted in these
scenes are as varied as the scenes themselves. Like the symposia scenes,
76
drinking and thus may have been a popular theme for pottery in symposia
themselves.
201359 Rounded base, Komos Cup 525-475
medium depth,
suspended in
background
201473 Rounded base, Komos Mug 525-475
medium depth,
suspended in
background
202433 Rounded base, Komos Skyphos 500-450
medium depth, fragments
suspended in
background
203315 Square but slightly Komos Cup 500-450
wider at mouth than
base, suspended by
handle on staff
203325 Wider at mouth than Komos Cup 500-450
base, medium depth
203327 1- Rounded at base, Komos Cup 500-450
medium depth,
carried by rope-like
handles 2-rounded
at base, medium
depth, suspended by
rope like handles in
background
203330§ Rounded base, Komos Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
203474 Rounded base, Komos Cup fragment 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
203490 Rounded base, Komos Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
203698 Rounded base, Komos Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
203931 Rounded base, Komos Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
78
203941 Rounded base, Komos Cup fragments 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
203943 Rounded base, Komos Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
203973 Rounded base, Komos Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
203989 Rounded base, Komos Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
204002 Rounded base, Komos Cup 500-450
medium depth,
worn over shoulder
like backpack
204004 Rounded base, Komos Cup 500-450
medium depth,
worn over shoulder
like backpack
204018 Rounded base, Komos Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
204047 Rounded base, Komos Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
204126 Rounded base, Komos Oinochoe 500-450
medium depth,
lying on ground
204172 Rounded base, Komos Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
204354 Rounded base, very Komos Cup B 500-450
deep-nearly lifesize-
carried on back over
shoulder
204494 Rounded base, Komos Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
79
204535 Rounded base, Komos Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
204607 Rounded base, Komos Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
204678 Rounded base, Komos Oinochoe 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
204679 Rounded base, Komos Cup fragment 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
204841 Rounded base, Komos Cup fragments 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
204896 Rounded base, Komos Cup 500-450
medium depth,
suspended in
background
204906 Thinnest in middle, Komos, youth Cup fragment 500-450
bows at mouth and
base, thick lip,
handle, three feet,
suspended in
background
205045 Rounded base, Komos, youth Cup 500-450
medium depth
80
208095 Rounded base, Komos, youth with Lekythos 475-425
medium depth, pipes, case and basket
suspended in
background
209876 Rounded base, Komos Skyphos 475-425
medium depth,
suspended in
background
209890 Rounded base, Komos Cup 475-425
medium depth,
suspended in
background
211273 Square, handle, Komos Cup 475-425
three feet
211365 Rounded base, Komos Cup 475-425
medium depth,
suspended in
background
211424 Rounded base, Komos Cup 475-425
medium depth,
suspended in
background,
inverted
212126 Rounded base, Komos Cup 475-425
medium depth
213314 Rounded base, Komos Skyphos 475-425
medium depth,
suspended in
background
215146 Rounded base, Komos Stamnos 450-400
medium depth,
suspended in
background
81
VIII. Agricultural. Farming and vintage baskets do not follow a standard shape
but are all much larger and deeper than the baskets of the previous
therefore these baskets needed to be not only larger but likely sturdier as
well.
214606 Rounded base, Agricultural, satyrs Column krater 475-425
medium depth, wide treading grapes
mouth
215533 Large, rounded Agricultural, satyrs Column krater 450-400
base, wide mouth treading grapes
275087 Large, flat base, Agricultural, satyr Bell krater 525-475
wide mouth treading grapes
83
351459 Large, rounded Agricultural, satyrs Lekythos 525-475
base, wide mouth, trading grapes
small handles
IX. Hunting/ fishing. The use of nets and baskets in hunting and fishing is
sources.
selection of clay vessels moulded to imitate baskets either through pressing clay to
the inside of a basket creating the impression of the reeds, or through added paint
84
BAPD # Basket Shape Function in Scene Pot Shape Date
1003059 N/A N/A Basket with handle Geometric
1003061 N/A N/A Basket with handle Geometric
1003558 N/A N/A kalathos Not listed
1005395 N/A N/A Basket with handle Geometric
1005396 N/A N/A Basket with handle Geometric
1005397 N/A N/A Basket with handle Geometric
1005949 N/A N/A Sacrificial basket Not listed
1006688 N/A N/A Basket with handle, Geometric
painted
9014023 N/A N/A Basket, no handle, Geometric
impression
9015376 N/A N/A Basket with handle, Geometric
painted
9024082 N/A N/A Basket with handle Not listed
9026058 N/A N/A Basket, no handle, Geometric
painted
9026060 N/A N/A Basket no handle, Geometric
painted
9034040 N/A N/A Basket, no handle, Geometric
impression
9034280 N/A N/A Basket, two small Not listed
handles either side
85
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