Art Institute of Chicago

Aryballos (Container for Oil) with Chain

Roman; Nazareth (now Israel)

Date

late 1st-2nd century

Medium

Glass, blown technique, and bronze

Culture

Syria

Department

Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

Vessels of this sort were used to hold cosmetic oil and were standard accessories for Roman bathing. The bronze chains looped around the user's wrist. In the absence of soap, oil was rubbed onto the skin, and then scraped off with a strigil, an instrument with a curved, blunt blade.

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