Thysia

    • Provenienza:
      Syracuse, Ara di Ierone II, thysia no. 15
    • Data:
      3rd century BC
    • Materiali:
      Clay, bronze
    • Dimensioni:
      chytra: height 8 cm; olpe: height 10 cm; lucerna: height 2.2 cm, diameter 5.2 cm
    • Collocazione:
      Syracuse, Museo Archeologico Regionale “Paolo Orsi”
    • Inventario:
      invv. 102140-102143
  • Thysia

Group of vessels buried in a small trench (thysia) excavated near the great altar, consisting of a small chytra or pot, an olpe, an oil lamp and a bronze coin issued in the Hieronian Age. The more than one hundred thysiai buried side by side were discovered in the area to the north of the altar and probably part of ceremonial rituals in honour of the divinity to whom the great altar was dedicated. They contained a pot for cooking, one or two vessels for pouring and drinking, and sometimes one or two ointment jars, an oil lamp, as well as the occasional coin.