Decanter: Oinochoe

  Decanter: Oinochoe

Click the image to enlarge. Copyrighted by Shiro Kawashima.

Click the image to enlarge. Public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.

Oinochoe was a vessel used for decanting wine, or transferring wine from a Crater (Krater) to it in order to eliminate sediments and serve a clear wine. The term "oinochoe" is from "wine (oinos)" and "pour (choe)". It had one handle on the back appropriate for pouring.

The form and size were various. Most were 20 - 30 cm in height.

Olpe

Click the image to enlarge. Copyrighted by Shiro Kawashima

Click the image to enlarge. Public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.

Ople was the earliest type of oinochoe. It had a smooth profile, a flat lip, and a single handle. Most were 20-30cm in height.

Chous

Click the image to enlarge. Copyrighted by Shiro Kawashima

Chous had a rounded body with a trefoil mouth and a single handle. The term "chous" was derived from "pour (cheo)". Most were around 20 cm in height.

The chouses (the size around 10 cm in heigh) were sometimes discovered in graves of children as burial goods. It was because chouses were used to pour wine for children during the Anthesteria which was a festival of Dionysus and celebrated the new wine.

Kyathos - Cyathus

Click the image to enlarge. Copyrighted by Shiro Kawashima

Click the image to enlarge. Public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.

This dipper with a single high handle was called Kyathos (Cyathus in Latin). The name "kyathos" was from "kuo (conceive)". It was used to ladle wine from krater into a drinking cup. It was around 10 cm in height.