The drinking hole in a Rhyton

[John Conyard]

I have recently purchased a bronze rhyton in the form of a stags head, based on the gold example from the Panagyurishte treasure, late 4th century.

I can see the original in the Plovdiv archaeological museum has a small "drinking" hole in the lower lip. Other cups have a similar feature.

My question is, just how do you drink from a rhyton, via this drinking hole? Is it really for drinking? It seems very strange.

[Lucius Rabirius]

No, its not.

Basically you have two types of a Rhython.
The first is the one with only one hole for drinking in dionysic thiasoi and festivals.

the second type has also on the bottom a hole for donations to gods in rituals. They are not for drinking. You can find easily such ceramic- forms since mykenean and minoan time. The priest, wanax or person, who gives donation to gods in ritual closes the hole at the bottom with his finger or one object and when he wants or has to set some liquid free, he puts the finger/ object away.
So its only for rituals, not for personal use or drinking.

Hope, it helps you. Regards

[john m roberts]

Actually, this is the earliest ancestor of the classic "dribble cup" that used to be sold in comic book ads. It's a little-known fact that ancient people were fond of practical jokes. Ancient whoopee cushions are often misidentified as wineskins.

[John Conyard]

Thank you Robinson.

Just one more question.

Do you generally see the same form or shape of ryton used for drinking, and for libations?

Many thanks,

John

[Lucius Rabirius]

I´m not an expert but in general yes.
As I know it, you can just tell the specific function of the Rhython from the hole at the bottom. If its there libation, if not drinking. But there are no other differences. Its one very old form, as I said before, you have it also in Mykenean time. I would think, the drinking function appeard later in Classical Greece, but I dont know and I cant prove it.

So, basically, the form is the same for both functions. Just the number of holes vary.

[John Conyard]

Thank you very much for your time.

I'll happily drink out my example, but talk about the libation hole and the alternative use at the same time.