Attic Red-Figure Lekythoi from the Batumi Archaeological Museum

Abstract

As a result of many years of archaeological research of the Pichvnari cemetery,
a rich collection of Attic ceramic pottery was gathered in the Batumi Archaeological Museum.
Lekythoi (oil flask used at baths and gymnasiums and for religious or funerary purposes) are
a special part of the collection. There were preserved almost all types of lekythoi. Lekythoi,
as an important attribute of the funeral ritual, are found in burials and on funeral feast sites
of Pichvnari. There are both simple ornamented samples of mass production and individually
painted ones. It’s noteworthy that lekythoi were found at the Colchian cemetery. The theme
of the painting is mainly related to death and existence after death. The article presents two
red-figure lekythoi of the 5th century BC. found at the Pichvnari Greek cemetery. They have
been attributed to the Aischines Painter, the master of the second quarter of the fifth century
BC. One of them (Pichvnari Greek necropolis, burial 216, discovered in 2000) has the scene of
funeral ritual: a woman with a sacrifice, and the other (Pichvnari Greek necropolis, burial 260,
discovered in 2005) - a winged goddess with a torch.