aryballos

[ ar-uh-bal-uhs ]

noun

, Greek and Roman Antiquity.

, plural ar·y·bal·loi [ar-, uh, -, bal, -oi].

1. an oil jar, characterized by a spherical body, flat-rimmed mouth, and often a single handle extending from the lip to the shoulder of the jar, used chiefly for fragrant ointments.

Other Words From

• ary·balloid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of aryballos¹

First recorded in 1840–50; from Greek arýballos “a draw-purse,” equivalent to arý(ein) “to draw” + -ballos, akin to ballántion “purse”

Example Sentences

The other pieces included an Apulian terra-cotta flask in the shape of an African head from the fourth century B.C.; an Ionian sculpture of a ram’s head from the sixth century; and an attic aryballos, a vessel for oil or perfume, from the early fifth century.

From New York Times

A green-patinated strigil is on display beside the aryballos.

From New York Times

This area of the gallery contains the oldest piece in the exhibition, a sixth-century B.C. aryballos, or oil flask, that was once part of an athlete’s toiletry kit.

From New York Times

Behind are a youth standing, wrapped in a mantle, and a woman who holds an aryballos in her left hand and wears her mantle over her head.

From Project Gutenberg

At the left end of the relief a girl draped in plain long chiton with sleeves, and a cap with tassel, stands to the right holding an aryballos and alabastron.

From Project Gutenberg