Getty Museum

Alabastron

Date

about 595–570 B.C.

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Greek (Corinthian)

Department

Vessels

Institution

Getty Museum

Two snarling lions face one another on the front of this Corinthian black-figure alabastron. Between them stands an owl. This symmetrical configuration of animals was popular on alabastra in the late 600s and early 500s B.C. Vessels like this were used to hold perfumed oil, and the narrow opening at the top was designed to restrict the flow of this precious commodity. The hole in the handle would have been used to suspend the alabastron on a string.

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