Mastos facts for kids
A mastos (pronounced mah-STOSS) was a type of drinking cup used in ancient Greece. People sometimes call it a parabolic cup because of its shape. Similar cups were also made from glass or silver.
Most mastoi (the plural of mastos) were decorated using two main styles: black-figure or white ground. Some of the very first ones were made with the red-figure style. A mastos usually had two handles. Some even had a small foot at the bottom to stand on. A mastoid cup is a bit different; it's shaped like a cone but has a flat bottom, and it might or might not have handles.
Contents
What is a Mastos?
A mastos was a unique kind of cup. Its name comes from a Greek word meaning "breast" because of its rounded, pointed shape. It was designed for drinking liquids, likely wine mixed with water, which was common in ancient Greece.
How Was It Shaped?
The mastos had a deep, rounded body. It often came to a point at the very bottom. This pointed base meant it couldn't stand up on its own. People had to hold it or place it in a stand.
Handles and Design
Most mastoi had two handles. These handles could be placed in a few ways. Sometimes, both handles were horizontal, sticking out to the sides. Other times, one handle was horizontal, and the other was vertical, like the handle on a modern mug.
The vertical handle made it easier to drink from this deep cup. It was different from a kylix, which was a shallower drinking cup. Having one handle turned differently might have also helped hang the cup when it had a pointed base.
How Were Mastoi Decorated?
Ancient Greek pottery was famous for its beautiful artwork. Mastoi were often decorated with detailed scenes.
Black-Figure Style
In the black-figure style, artists painted figures and designs in black on the natural red clay of the pot. They would then scratch details into the black paint to show things like hair or clothing folds. This style was popular for a long time.
White Ground Style
The white ground style used a white layer of paint over the clay. Artists then drew figures on this white surface using different colors. This style allowed for more colorful and detailed paintings.
Red-Figure Style
The red-figure style was a newer technique. Instead of painting the figures black, artists painted the background black. This left the figures in the natural red color of the clay. Details were then added with fine lines of black paint. This made the figures stand out more.
Where Can We See Mastoi Today?
Many mastoi have been found by archaeologists. They give us clues about daily life and art in ancient Greece. You can see these ancient cups in museums around the world, like the Walters Art Museum mentioned with the image above. They are important pieces of history that show us the skill of ancient Greek potters and artists.
See also
In Spanish: Masto para niños
