amphora, the
from the greek words "αμφί"(on both sides) and "φέρω" (carry): vessel with long ovoid body and a considerably narrower neck made in various sizes from the smaller perfume oil container to the large storage receivers of liquids and solids. It stands on a small foot and it bears two invariable vertical handles on either side. Some of the distinguished types of the amphorae are these whose lower part is tapering to the point (narrow bottomed), the neck type, the Nicosthenian, the Nola, the Panathenaic, the Tyrrhenian, the SOS type.

amphoriskos
A vessel for holding perfume oil; its shape is that of an upside-down cone, and it features two handles at its shoulder.

anthemion (Palmette)
A floral decorative motif in the form of a palmette, very widespread in the Greek art and architecture.

aryballos, the
A flask for holding perfume oil of a spherical or globular shape.

black figure technique
Decorative technique of vase painting. It involves painting figures in black silhouette on the pale clay, while the anatomic details are given in incised lines.

crater, the
from the greek verb "κεράννυμι" (to mix). Big, open vessel for mixing wine with water. The wine was then poured into oinochoae. There are various craters' forms depending on body and handle shape: column-, volute-, calyx-, and bell crater. They were usually placed in the middle of the room where symposia were held-

dinos, lebes, the
Another name for lebes. Big, open, semisherical vessel without handles and very low neck. It bears no foot and it was used for mixing wine with water and as a prize. When it was standing on a high stand and had two tall vertical handles disposed on a tall neck and a mouth covered with a lid, it was called "lebes gamikos" and was used for marriage rituals.

guilloche, the
An ornament formed of interlaced bands.

hydria
From the greek word "hydor" (water). It bears three handles, two for carrying and one placed vertical to the wide shoulder of the vessel for pouring. Water was usually carried, but hydria was also often used as ballot box and cinerary urn. The type of the hydria whose neck is not clearly separated from the body is called "calpis".

Komastes, the
The person participating in the “Κomos”, the orgiastic dance in honour of Dionysus. For the archaeologists, the komastai are the dancers related to the symposium and the wine-drinking.

kylix, the
The most essential ancient drinking cup. It bears a wide and shallow body raised on a stem from a foot. It always has horizontal handles disposed symmetrically, often swinging upwards . The interior, flat, round bottom of the vessel was used as surface for painted decoration. There are many different types of kylikes such as the Komast type, the Siana type, types A, B, C, the Droop and the Cassel cups.

metope (1. architecture, 2. painting)
1. Rectangular element separating the triglyphs on a Doric frieze. Metopes often have figurative relief representations.2. rectangular area, usually at the height of the vessel's handles, depicting figural or non figural ornamental representations.

mica
Clay inclusions usually derived from eroded minerals and stones (mostly marble and schist).

oenochoe
From the greek words "οίνος" (wine) and "χέω" (pour). Ovoid, single-handled wine jug usually taller than it is wide. There have been distinguished 10 types based on variations of profile, mouth type and handle form.

olpe
Some years ago it was considered as an oinochoe type. It is an ovoid and tall (if compared with its breadth) vessel with one high handle that surpasses its mouth. It is used for pouring liquids.

pinakion
painted plate.

rosette, the
An ornament with a generally circular combination of parts resembling a flower or plant.

Silhouette technique
Technique of vase painting. It involves black-painted figures without incised lines.

slip
Thin wash of liquid clay applied to the vessel or tile prior to firing in a kiln, in order to win a smooth surface after firing.

stamnos
vessel used for serving and storing liquids. It was much squatter than the amphora and it had two stubby handles disposed on its broad shoulder. It also had a low neck and foot. Many examples have been found in Etruria.