In the eighth century B.C., Greek settlers left their homeland behind and established a string of colonies along the Adriatic coast of Southern Italy. After the rise of Rome centuries later, this region would become known by the Latin term Magna Graecia, literally “Greater Greece,” due to the dense concentration of Greek settlements. The Greeks flourished here alongside the native populations, amassing great wealth through trade and importing their Hellenic culture throughout the area. They in turn were influenced by their neighbors, so that Magna Graecian pottery developed into a unique style that reflected both Greek and native Italian traditions.

This squat lekythos is pure in form and simple in decoration. Covered in a luminous black glaze, the only non-functional adornment is the vertical lines incised along the body. In an ancient Greek household, this vessel would have been used to carry and disperse liquids during banquets.