Funerary container in the shape of a water jar (hydria) with laurel wreath decorations

Datemid-3rd c. BCE

Periodearly Hellenistic

Object GeographyCrete, Greece

Geography NotesSaid to be from Hadra, the eastern necropolis of Alexandria, Egypt

MediumCeramic (wheelmade) with brown and black paint

DimensionsHeight: (14 15/16 in.) 38 cm
Width (handle to handle): (12 3/8 in.) 31.5 cm
Diameter (body): (9 3/4 in.) 24.75 cm
Rim diameter exterior: (5 1/4 in.) 13.35 cm
Rim diameter interior: (3 13/16 in.) 9.7 cm
Neck diameter interior at rim: (3 13/16 in.) 9.7 cm
Neck diameter exterior at bottom: (3 1/2 in.) 8.84 cm
Neck diameter exterior at top: (4 3/16 in.) 10.7 cm
Handle twisted diameter: (7/8 in.) 2.2 cm
Handle lug length: (4 1/4 in.) 10.82 cm
Handle lug width: (3/4 in.) 1.86/1.88 cm
Handle lug thickness: (11/16 in.) 1.72/1.78 cm
wall thickness at neck: (3/16 in.) 0.5 cm
shoulder diameter: (9 1/16 in.) 23 cm
base diameter: (4 1/16 in.) 10.38 cm
letter E: height: (13/16 in.) 2.07 cm
letter E: width: (3/4 in.) 1.86 cm
letter Λ: height: (13/16 in.) 2.08 cm
letter Λ: width: (9/16 in.) 1.41 cm
letter Λ: height: (13/16 in.) 1.99 cm
letter Λ: width: (9/16 in.) 1.46 cm
letter A: height: (15/16 in.) 2.31 cm
letter A: width: (3/4 in.) 1.96 cm
letter N: height: (7/8 in.) 2.18 cm
letter N: width: (1/2 in.) 1.22 cm
letter I: height: (15/16 in.) 2.42 cm
letter I: width: (.02 in.) 0.05 cm

ClassificationsCeramics

Credit LineBequest of John Ringling, 1936

Object numberSN28.892

Water jars called hydrias have two side handles for carrying, and another for pouring. Vessels like this one with laurel wreath decorations were made on Crete. Yet they are known as Hadra hydrias because they were first identified in burials at Hadra, Egypt. The inscription likely names the deceased person.

On View

Not on view

Collections

Medium Details

Color

Fabric: 7.5 YR 7/3 (pink) to 10YR 7/4 (very pale brown); core 5YR 6/4 (light reddish brown) to 2.5YR 5/6 (red)

Paint: N 2.5/ (black) and 7.5YR 4/2 (brown)

Inclusions

fine, few gravel lime