Aryballos (Jar)

This aryballos or oil vessel may have belonged to an athlete who would have used its contents as soap. Its oval body fits snugly into the hand and the handle allowed it to be attached to the wrist by a leather strap. The decoration is fitting for a youth, showing Greek foot soldiers in full armor engaged in combat. Although the exact subject of this scene has never been identified, it may represent an episode from the Iliad.