Crater

A bellied wine vessel (also crater, kratér) used in ancient Greece in the shape of a bell or jug with a wide mouth at the top. These vessels were made of clay or bronze and decorated with reliefs and paintings. Most of them had a height of 30 to 45 centimetres and a volume of about 50 to 100 litres. The first of the many artefacts found date back to the 10th century BC. The vessel was used for mixing wine with water, which was common at the time. It was regularly used at the symposion, which is attested by drinking scenes on Greek vase paintings. It stood on the floor next to the guests who were camped out. The wine was then poured from the crater into the smaller oinochoes (chous, olpe) and from there into handy drinking vessels such as kantharos.

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Crater

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