Figured vessel - Lagynos
Crimea, surroundings of Sevastopol, Belbek IV burial ground, burial 233 Place of production: Knid Peninsula (present-day Turkey)
The second half of the II century AD
The late Scythian culture
Clay
bottom diameter-7.5 cm, height-19.5 cm
From: excavations by Crimea expedition of the State Historical Museum leaded by I.I. Guzhina
Showcase 4
The body of a vessel has a biconical shape, it ends with a neck in shape of sculptures grotesque head of a man with a beaklike hypertrophied nose, fat lips, small beard and mustache, widely opened eyes. The head is crowned with a low and slightly expanded to the top and bevel-edged hub - discharge. On the shoulders of a vessel in a high relief are depicted three couples (man and woman) in erotic poses. Each couple is placed on a bed that is covered with a wide blanket. Each of three beds has its own shape; it can be noticed that they had carved foots and a high head of the bed, richly decorated in one case. One of men has a lamp in his left hand and there is a musical instrument behind him. Between couples there are several objects placed: a candelabrum with a lamp on its top, a stone pine’s cone of a very big size, a cantharos, a pitcher and two mirrors.
Exhibit’s purpose of use – the vessel was used as a pitcher for wine, but also could be used in Dionysian rituals, considering the kind of images that were used for decoration.
Uniqueness – Such vessels were crafted in limited parcels with the help of a set of various different shapes, analogies to separate parts are known, complete analogies are not.
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