Location:Museum of George and Nefeli Giabra Pierides Collection (Donated by Clio and Solon Triantafyllides), Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation, Nicosia, Cyprus
Description
The skyphos, dating back to the end of the 8th century BC, is of characteristic Late Geometric Euboean type. Such skyphoi have been found in fairly large numbers, especially in tombs in the Amathus region. The Cypriots were very fond of the Euboean drinking cups, especially during the Cypro-Arcaic I period and they also produced them locally. The skyphos belongs to the pottery collection of the George and Nefeli Giabra Pierides museum at the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation.
The artefact under study (height: 7cm; diameter: 11.8 cm) has convex sides, vertical lip, two opposite horizontal loop handles on body, flat base. Decoration in orange to dark red paint. The exterior surface is decorated on both sides between handles with two confronted birds in rectangular panels separated by a group of vertical parallel lines. Above each bird there is a rectangle or lozenge probably recalling the wings of Euboean birds. The interior is painted solid.
