With oinos meaning “wine” and cheo “I pour” in ancient Greek, the oinochoe was at least nominally intended to do exactly that – but the vessel could obviously be used for pouring other kinds of liquids as well. The single handle and the trefoil or beaked spout was used to pour wine and/or other drinks during meals or other activities. It usually comes in a variety of shapes and colors.
-Elaina Kim ‘21, JIAAW Records and Collections Assistant 2017/18
Herds of wild goats and spotted deer graze in single file on the lower registers of this trefoil oinochoe (three-spouted pitcher). The rows of goats have given their name to this type of pottery decoration: the Wild Goat style.
Hafner, G. 1908. “Lanessa.” Rivista di Archeologia, IV: p. 23. Richter, Gisela M. A. 1926. “The Classical Collection: Rearrangement and Important Accessions.” Bulletin of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 21(4), part 2: p. 10, fig. 4. Richter, Gisela M. A. 1927. Handbook of the Classical Collection. p. 160, fig.
Add to My Finds Oinochoe of fine grey bucchero ware. Disc foot with flat base. Globular body. Flaring neck. Rounded trefoil rim. Round handle. Wheelmarks visible on body and interior of neck. Burnished. See a problem? Let us know [email protected]
