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

Datemid-3rd c. BCE

Periodearly Hellenistic

Object GeographyCrete, Greece

CultureGreek (Cretan)

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

MediumCeramic (wheelmade) with brown and black paint

ClassificationCeramics

ProvenancePietro Pugioli collection; purchased by Elbert Eli Farman 1883-1884; purchased by the Metropolitan Museum of Art 1890; (sale, the Anderson Galleries, New York), March 30, 1928; purchased by John Ringling; bequest to The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 1936-present.

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

DimensionsOverall
Height: 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)
Dameter (interior): 3 13/16 in. (9.7 cm)
Neck
Diameter (interior, at rim): 3 13/16 in. (9.7 cm)
Diameter (exterior, at top): 4 3/16 in. (10.7 cm)
Diameter (exterior, at bottom): 3 1/2 in. (8.84 cm)
Handle
Diameter (twisted): 7/8 in. (2.2 cm)
Handle lug
Length: 4 1/4 in. (10.82 cm)
Width: 3/4 in. (1.86/1.88 cm)
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)
Width: 3/4 in. (1.86 cm)
Letter Λ
Height: 13/16 in. (2.08 cm)
Width: 9/16 in. (1.41 cm)
Letter Λ
Height: 13/16 in. (1.99 cm)
Width: 9/16 in. (1.46 cm)
Letter A
Height: 15/16 in. ( 2.31 cm)
Width: 3/4 in. (1.96 cm)
Letter N
Height: 7/8 in. (2.18 cm)
Width: 1/2 in. (1.22 cm)
Letter I
Height: 15/16 in. (2.42 cm)
Width: .02 in. (0.05 cm)
Medium Details

Medium Details

Color (Munsell soil color chart)

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