olpe

plural olpes · plural olpae · plural olpai

1. Originally, a leather flask or vessel for oils or liquids; afterward, an earthenware vase or pitcher without a spout.

   Some inscribed olpai from Athens were probably used as measures, but there are other possible domestic uses, such as for serving small amounts of oil or vinegar.

   2016, Margarit Damyanov, “Votive and other pottery from a sanctuary of Demeter in Apollonia Pontica”, in Manolis Manoledakis, editor, The Black Sea in the Light of New Archaeological Data and Theoretical Approaches: Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on the Black Sea in Antiquity held in Thessaloniki, 18-20 September 2015, Archaeopress, →ISBN, page 130, column 1

   2 more examples

   Altogether, Amyx attributed fifty-six olpai and oinochoai to the Painter of Vatican 73, thus making his oeuvre rank among the largest recognized in Corinthian ceramics.

   1983, C. W. Neeft, “What Is in a Name? The Painter of Vatican 73 in the Getty”, in Greek Vases in the J. Paul Getty Museum, →ISBN, page 1, column 1

   In later vase-iconography, oinokhoai and olpai appear in sympotic scenes where they are used for ladling wine from the krater and pouring it into cups (Richter & Milne, 1935: 18; Gericke, 1970: 32-35).

   2011, Alexandra Alexandridou, The Early Black-Figured Pottery of Attika in Context (c. 630-570 bce) (Monumenta Graeca et Romana; 17), Brill, →ISBN, page 15, column 1