Stamnos facts for kids
A stamnos (say: STAM-nos) is a special type of pottery from ancient Greece. People used these pots to hold liquids, especially wine. Stamnoi (that's the plural for more than one stamnos) usually had a flat bottom, a wide opening at the top, a lid to keep things fresh, and two handles on their sides, near the top.
What is a Stamnos?
A stamnos was a medium-sized pot, often shaped like a jar with a rounded body. Its design made it good for storing liquids. The wide mouth made it easy to pour things in and out, and the lid helped to keep the contents safe and clean. The handles were useful for carrying the pot.
What Was It Used For?
The main job of a stamnos was to store liquids. The most common liquid stored in them was wine. In ancient Greece, wine was often mixed with water before drinking, and a stamnos might have been used to hold this mixture during meals or parties. They could also have been used for storing other liquids like olive oil.
Where Did Stamnoi Come From?
The very first stamnoi we know about were made in places like Laconia (a region in ancient Greece) and Etruria (an ancient region in Italy) a long, long time ago. Later, around 530 BC, potters in Athens, a very important city in ancient Greece, started making them too. Athenian stamnoi became quite popular and are known for their beautiful decorations.
The Art of Stamnoi
Many stamnoi were decorated with amazing paintings. These paintings often showed scenes from Greek myths, daily life, or special events. The stamnos in the picture above is an example of a "red-figure" pot. This style of painting became popular in Athens around the time stamnoi started being made there. In red-figure pottery, the background is painted black, and the figures are left in the natural red color of the clay, with details added in black lines. This made the figures stand out brightly against the dark background.
