Lekythos with representation of fighting Hoplites
Hoplites were heavily armed footfighters in the ancient Greek bourgeois and peasant armies, who - in contrast to the noble lone fighter in the Homeric period - fought in the closed phalanx, which became the decisive type of weapon especially in Sparta and Athens from about the 7th century BC. Prerequisite for the use as Hoplit was the possession of full civil rights and the means to own equipment. The Hoplit wore a large shield, helmet and armour as well as greaves; his main weapons were lance and sword.
Lekythen form a special Greek vessel form,
elongated, originally also a compact oil vessel with a shoulder, thin neck and thickened lip set off angularly from the torso. The Lekythen were used in burial cult. The white-ground Lekythen of the 5th century B.C. painted with pictures to commemorate the dead are of perfect beauty. Larger grave kythen of marble with relief decoration served as gravestones.
Lekythos exhibited at Kerameikos Museum in Athens, 480 BC, hand-painted terracotta replica reduction.
A seal attached to the exhibit bears the inscription "MUSEUM COPY", on the back "HAND MADE IN GREECE".
