ANCIENT RHYTONSBy Barbara M. Soper

1

The Old World ArchaeologistJournal of the Old World ArchaeologicalStudy UnitVol. 24, no. 3July 2004

Rhytons were ancient vessels forstoring and drinking wine. The wordrhyton comes from the Greek rhyta,meaning “to run through.” Rhytonsfeatured a filler hole at the top and ahole at the bottom so that wine couldflow through them like a funnel.Rhytons were used by the Minoansand Mycenaens in the Bronze Ageand possibly were exported to othercivilizations through sea commerce.Rhytons, in the form of animal headsor horns terminating in animalforeparts, are believed to haveoriginated in Persia. Their spread toother peoples was by the ancient SilkRoads of Central Asia and by Persianmilitary campaigns.

Bulgaria’s Panagyurishte TreasureScott #1535(11/28/66)

The Minoan civilization on Crete usedrhytons as libation vessels, fillingthem with wine or possibly the bloodof a sacrificed bull. A fresco fromKnossos palace on Crete featured a

rhyton bearer walking in a procession.The scene is reproduced on a Greekstamp(Scott 711.)

Greece #711 Cyprus #547

(6/30/61) (9/15/80)

An actual tapered vessel such as theman in the fresco carried wasunearthed in an archaeological dig. Itbecame the subject of another stampissue, Cyprus, Scott 547. The rhytonis from the 13th century B.C, isdecorated with Minoan motifs,including that of a bull, and has asmall hole in the base.

Iran #1562(1970)

A Persian rhyton, now in the NationalMuseum at Tehran, is shown on Iran(Scott 1562.) The vessel is made ofgold and features a winged lion.Persian kings and commanders often

ANCIENT RHYTONSBy Barbara M. Soper

2

took rhytons on their militarycampaigns, such as those against theGreeks. The Greek historianHerodatus described the aftermath ofthe Battle of Platea between Greeksand Persians in 479 B.C. After theAthenians defeated the Persians, theyraided a Persian camp. There theyfound much silver and gold,especially golden rhytons. Thesevessels, taken back to Athens, becameinspiration for Athenian rhytons.

Another ancient drinking horn isshown on Armenia Scott 497. It datesto the 5th century B.C. Made of silver,its lower portion depicts a horse-mounted warrior. Since prehistorictimes, the Central Asian Steppeproduced wave after wave of horsewarriors. The treasures of thesemounted horsemen had to be smalland portable so that they could becarried to wherever warring factionswere fighting. Rhytons were prizedpossessions of such warriors.

Armenia #497Silver Cup(4/27/95)

Another rhyton from Central Asia isshown on Russia (Scott 3634.) Thehorn-shaped vessel ends in theforepart of a wildcat or lynx. A spoutfor pouring is in the chest of theanimal. Grapevine leaves, laden withgrapes, encircle the top of the vesseland are repeated in a garland of leavestwining around the body of thewildcat. The grapevine was a symbolof the Greek wine god Dionysus,whose cult spread eastwards with theconquests of Alexander the Great.

Russia #3634Turkmenian Wine Horn

(9/3/69)

The vessel is believed to be ofParthian manufacture and dates to the1st century B.C. The Parthiansconquered Iran in 200 B.C. and ,thereafter, controlled much commerceflowing over the Silk Roads.

ANCIENT RHYTONSBy Barbara M. Soper

3

Israel #328Gold Drinking Horn

(10/26/66)

Still another example of a rhytonappears on Israel (Scott 328.) Thegold, ram’s headed drinking horn isfrom Persia and dates to the 5th

century B.C. The animals depicted onthese drinking vessels may have beensacred to the cultures that producedthem. The passage of wine through abull’s head or ram’s head “funnel”may have been a sacred rite—aconsecration of the liquid within.

Bulgaria’s Panagyurishte Treasure#1537 Rams Head Cup

#1536 Head Jug(11/28/66)

The largest trove of rhytons everfound comes from ancient Thrace(modern Bulgaria.) The Thracianswere another nomadic civilization ofhorse warriors who, despite beingcalled “barbarians” by civilized folks,

had exquisite taste in art. Thracianchieftans loved to adorn themselvesand their horses with gold and silverobjects. Often they commissionedgold objects from Greek artisansliving in Greek colonies along theBlack Sea. At other times, theyproduced their own art objects,borrowing from Greek styles butincorporating their own mythologyand motifs.

Bulgaria’s Panagyurishte Treasure#1540 Deer’s Head Cup

#1538 Circular Plate

The Panagyurishte Treasure, aspectacular horde of Thracian vessels,was unearthed in central Bulgaria in1949. The treasure consisted of sevenrhytons, a rhyton-amphora, and aphial. All were drinking vessels andall were made of solid gold. Theentire treasure is depicted on Bulgaria(Scott 1535-1543.) The rhytons are inthe shape of deer’s heads,

Amazon’s heads, and a horn with theforepart of a ram. The rhyton-amphora is the most elaboratelyembossed of all the vessels. Althoughshaped like an amphora, it functionedas a rhyton. Two spout holes beneath

ANCIENT RHYTONSBy Barbara M. Soper

4

the centaurs on the handles allowedtwo people to drink from it.

Bulgaria’s Panagyurishte Treasure#1539 Head Jug

#1543 Ram Drinking Horn

In 1981, Mexico issued three stampsto commemorate the 1300th

anniversary of the Bulgarian state.One of these stamps

Mexico #1246Thracian Gold Cup

(9/19/81)

(Scott 1246) reproduced one of thedeer’s head rhytons from thePanagyurishte Treasure. All of thevessels in the treasure show strongGreek influence but gold mining andmetalworking had a long tradition inancient Bulgaria.

Bulgaria’s Panagyurishte Treasure#1539 Head Jug

Bulgaria’s Panagyurishte Treasure#1542 Amphora

Rhytons are certainly fascinatingobjects. They tell us much about thecross pollination of cultures and artstyles that took place among ancientpeoples. They also tell us that bothcivilized folks and “barbarians” inantiquity had something in common --a love of wine and drinking it fromelegant vessels.