# Aryballos (Container for Oil)

- By: Ancient Eastern Mediterranean
- Date: late 6th-5th century BCE
- Medium: Glass, core-formed technique
- Classification: Vessel
- Dimensions: 7.1 × 5.6 × 5.6 cm (2 3/4 × 2 1/4 × 2 1/4 in.)
- Culture: Ródhos
- Credit line: Gift of Theodore W. and Frances S. Robinson
- Museum: [Art Institute of Chicago](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/43350)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://www.artic.edu/iiif/2/00fc630d-f5ec-dfac-6e91-1ee6d1b5fb98/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

Containers like this one were used to store precious oils. The flaring rim functioned as an applicator to spread the thick, scented oil over the skin; while the vessel itself was designed to fit comfortably in the user's hand.

Description © Art Institute of Chicago, CC BY 4.0