The Spool-shaped pxis (NAMA 5225) is a ceramic vessel from the

Bronze Age The Bronze Age is a historic period, lasting approximately from 3300 BC to 1200 BC, characterized by the use of bronze, the presence of writing in some areas, and other early features of urban civilization. The Bronze Age is the second pri ...

Cycladic civilisation Cycladic culture (also known as Cycladic civilisation or, chronologically, as Cycladic chronology) was a Bronze Age culture (c. 3200–c. 1050 BC) found throughout the islands of the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea. In chronological terms, it is a rel ...

. The "dark on light" painted

pyxis Pyxis is a small and faint constellation in the southern sky. Abbreviated from Pyxis Nautica, its name is Latin for a mariner's compass (contrasting with Circinus, which represents a draftsman's compasses). Pyxis was introduced by Nicolas-Lo ...

was found in grave 271 of the necropolis at

Chalandriani Chalandriani ( el, Χαλανδριανή) is a major early Bronze Age cemetery on the island of Syros in Greece, dated to the Early Cycladic II period (Keros-Syros culture, 2600–2300 BC).J. Hilditch, ''Chalandriani on Syros'', The Encyclopedia ...

on the Cycladic island of

Syros Syros ( el, Σύρος ), also known as Siros or Syra, is a Greek island in the Cyclades, in the Aegean Sea. It is south-east of Athens. The area of the island is and it has 21,507 inhabitants (2011 census). The largest towns are Ermoupoli, A ...

and dates to the early Cycladic period (EC II,

Keros-Syros culture The Keros-Syros culture is named after two islands in the Cyclades: Keros and Syros. This culture flourished during the Early Cycladic II period (ca 2700-2300 BC) of the Cycladic civilization. The trade relations of this culture spread far and ...

). It was discovered in 1889/90 during excavations led by

Christos Tsountas Christos Tsountas ( el, Χρήστος Τσούντας; 1857 – 9 June 1934) was a Greece, Greek classical archaeologist. He was born in Thrace, Thracian Stenimachos, Ottoman Empire (present-day Asenovgrad in Bulgaria) and attended Zariphios Schoo ...

and as first published by Tsountas in 1899. It is displayed in the

National Archaeological Museum, Athens The National Archaeological Museum ( el, Εθνικό Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο) in Athens houses some of the most important artifacts from a variety of archaeological locations around Greece from prehistory to late antiquity. It i ...

with the inventory number 5225.

Description

The pyxis is a unique ceramic object with an unusual shape. It consists of two nearly identical parts which sit one inside the other. The red-brown clay is very fine with no coarse grains. On the upper side is a pattern in red and brown paint. Similar patterns are found at Chalandriani on contemporary pyxides, which are rounder and have double eyelet handles. On the upperside of the pyxis is a geometrical pattern in "dark on light" paint. Both parts consist of a flat, circular sheet with an open cylinder rising from it. The upper part has a larger diameter which allows it to be placed over the lower part. The overlapping area of the upper and lower parts is perforated with a pair of holes. The upper part has a height of 4.95 cm and a diameter of 12.6 cm. The sides and underside of the flat part are painted with a similar pattern to the top surface. The lower part has a height of 4.8 cm and a diameter which varies between 12. and 12.1 cm. The exterior surface of the lower part has a pattern similar to the upper part; inside there are three parallel curves, one inside the other.

Bibliography

* Tsountas, Christos (1899). "Kykladika II." ''Ephēmeris archaiologikē'', pp. 110–111
Digitised
; Table 8, 11, 11a
Digitised
. * {{cite book, first=Jörg, last=Rambach, title=Kykladen I. Die frühe Bronzezeit – Grab- und Siedlungsbefunde, publisher= Habelt, location=Bonn, year=2000, pages=96, ISBN=3-7749-2831-2 Table 38. Archaeological discoveries in Greece Cycladic art National Archaeological Museum, Athens Syros Individual ancient Greek vases