Bathing utensil from a mosaic

[Dardanus Lupus]

Can somebody identify the strange spiral thingy between bathing sandals and strigils in this lovely little mosaic from Sabrathan baths? It must be something self-evident, but nothing comes to my mind just know.

Cheers,

Dardanus

[PhilusEstilius]

I wonder if it represents a container of body oil to use in bathing.

[Crispianus]

Curious I was looking at that myself this afternoon but rather for the sandals I guess it would be a 3rd century mosaic.... since its all bath house related I would agree with Brian, an oil flask with a carrying strap....

[Nathan Ross]

Something like this one, perhaps?



(called a balsamarium, apparently!)

[Medicus matt]

I wonder if it represents a container of body oil to use in bathing.

That's the usual interpretation, that it's an aryballos of some sort. There's another one depicted with four strigils on the mosaic in the caldarium of the House of Menander, Pompeii.