Amphorae From the 6th—3rd Century Rural Necropolis of Olbian Polis: Production Centres and Sacral and Ritual Aspect

Abstract

In the article presented, analyzed are the amphorae, the most mass category of the findings in graves of the burial grounds at Olbian chora. Amphorae were used mainly as the funeral property, and also for the libations during the funeral procedure and the following funeral feast in the Archaic and the Early Classical periods. Used were mainly the vessels from the Greek centres leading the most intensive trade with Olbia, among which Chios, Samos, Attic, Klazomenai, and Lesbos prevailed. In the Late Classical period, besides their usage in the burial inventory structure and for funeral rites, amphorae were widely used as the details for funeral structures building: cromlechs, vertical slabs covering the entrance into an undercut grave. The most often used for these purposes were the amphorae of Chios, Herakleia Pontike, and Thasos. It can be stated that amphorae were one of the most important elements in funeral rites for the Olbian polis population during the period from the 6th to the 3rd centuries BC.