# Alabastron (Container for Scented Oil)

- By: Ancient Eastern Mediterranean
- Date: late 6th-early 3rd century BCE
- Medium: Glass, core-formed technique
- Classification: Vessel
- Dimensions: 12.8 × 3.3 × 3.2 cm (5 × 1 1/4 × 1 1/4 in.)
- Culture: Eastern Mediterranean Region
- Credit line: Gift of Theodore W. and Frances S. Robinson
- Museum: [Art Institute of Chicago](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/43373)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://www.artic.edu/iiif/2/3bf9f66c-b3c5-57e0-c013-2cf4d46ae5a2/full/!1621,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

The flaring rims of these alabastra functioned as applicators to spread the thick, scented oil over the skin. The vessels themselves fit comfortably in the user's hand.

Description © Art Institute of Chicago, CC BY 4.0