Daedalic Plastic Vase

A figure of a woman with her arms folded across her belly forms the body of this aryballos, a container for holding scented oil. The modeled human head forms the vessel's spout and neck. A hole at the back of the head would have been used for suspension. The artist used black paint to further elaborate the figure, and traces of the original pigment remain on the eyes and hair, and in three bands on the body.

The triangular face and stylized hair are characteristic of early Greek sculpture in the Daedalic style—named after Daidalos, the mythical craftsman from Crete. This style represents a combination of Greek and Near Eastern features. In the early 600s B.C., new artistic ideas flowed into Greece as a result of increased contacts with the Near East. Because of Crete’s central location along maritime trade routes between these regions, artists on the island played a leading role in synthesizing native and Near Eastern elements.