aryballos

American  

[ar-uh-bal-uhs] / ˌær əˈbæl əs /

Sometimes aryballus

noun

Greek and Roman Antiquity.

plural

aryballoi

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.

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Other Word Forms

• aryballoid adjective

Etymology

Origin of aryballos

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

Example Sentences

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 A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, Volume I (of 2) by Smith, A. H.

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 A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, Volume I (of 2) by Smith, A. H.