Hedgehog aryballos


Accession Number
EA4764
Current Location
House of Death (ground floor), Animals case
Object Type
Receptacle/vessel, Aryballos
Period
Late Period
Material
Faience
Number of Elements
1
Culture
Egyptian
Animal
Hedgehog
Measurements
Height: 42mm | Length: 53mm | Width: 33mm

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Description

A glazed composition cosmetic aryballos in the form of a hedgehog with a human head before a spout on the back. It is possibly from Thebes and dates to the Late Period. On long-term loan since 2005 from the British Museum who acquired it in 1835 from the collection of Henry Salt. An aryballos (Greek: ἀρύβαλλος; plural aryballoi) was a small spherical or globular flask with a narrow neck used in ancient Greece. It was used to contain perfume or oil, and is often depicted in vase paintings being used by athletes during bathing.

Bibliography

Goodridge, Wendy R. & Stuart J. Williams 2005. Offerings from The British Museum. Swansea: The Egypt Centre. [p. 15] Webb, Virginia 1978. Archaic Greek faience: miniature scent bottles and related objects from east Greece. Warminster: Aris & Phillips. [nr. 910]