Jar (Front from above)

This Minoan jar’s oval shape and brown stippling imitate the shells of ostrich eggs, which were used to make exotic vases found at various Aegean and Near Eastern sites. Imported from Egypt, ostrich eggs could have a capacity of over two liters. The sturdy eggs were frequently mounted with a gold, silver, or bronze foot and mouth, transforming them into luxury vessels. This small terracotta vase, likely used to hold a precious liquid such as perfumed oil, may have been intended to give the impression of such an exotic vessel at a fraction of the cost. Such vases modeled on imported ostrich eggs reveal a flourishing trade network between Crete, Greece, and neighboring civilizations during the Late Bronze Age (1600-1100 B.C.).