Pithos

Pithos with piriform shape; flat, thickened rim; small neck; raised band at junction of neck and shoulder; raised bands at base; thickened base; eight vertical handles, four on the upper shoulder and four above the base; eight circular medallions on the upper shoulder, in four pairs, set between the upper handles, composed of circular rope patterns; two sets of horizontal bands of ropework, four at center of body and three above base; diagonal ropework above base. Coarse, red (10R 5/6-8) clay with light and dark inclusions. Wiped with water. Handmade. Restored from fragments; some sherds missing. Comments: LM I. A member of the "medallion pithos" class, a class of pithos which was especially popular at Knossos, although this variety is an east Cretan type. For discussion see Evans 1921-35: IV, 634-636. Found in Room G23, a store room in the "palace" containing twelve pithoi (Boyd 1904-05 a: 39 and fig. 20; Hawes et al. 1908: 28, no. 30). Compare Chapouthier and Charbonneaux 1928: 53 and pl. 29, no. 2 (Mallia): Sackett and Popham 1970: fig. 19, no. NP 121 (Palaikastro).