Although the interior of this silver phiale is
smooth and unadorned, the exterior appears to
take the form of a flower. A double rosette
pattern marks the center of the bowl, while
thirty-three larger petals radiate outwards along
the body. Above the ridge that begins at the tips
of the petals, the vessel’s lip flares slightly
outwards. The decoration of this piece is
indicative of earlier works hailing from the Near
East. Specifically, this phiale recalls similar
examples from the Persian Empire that
Alexander the Great would go on to conquer,
revealing the ties that existed between these two
great civilizations in spite of their warring ways.
Shallow bowls like this phiale were used for
making libations to the gods. Precious liquid
substances, such as oil or wine, would have
poured forth from the lip of this silver vessel
onto an altar or shrine, invoking the favor of the
gods. Surely the gods must have favored this
phiale, for it has survived the ravages of time in
a remarkable condition. Today, it serves as a
memorial to the mastery of ancient Greek
metalworkers.
- (X.0085)
|
