Fun fact: An epinetron is about the same same length as Doodle the dachshund!
Epinetron: An epinetron was a ceramic cover worn on the thighs of women while wool working
Painted in Red Figure, ca. 430-420 B.C. (reproduction of original in National Archaeological Museum in Athens, Greece)
The art on this vessel features the rite of passage of marriage. It shows the wedding of Alcestis on one side and Harmonia (Ares’ and Aphrodite’s daughter) the patron goddess of marriage on the other. Aclestis was considered to be the image of an ideal bride in Ancient Greece. If you’re interested in reading more about her, you can check out Euripies play about her, called the Alcestis!
Pots and dogs and donkeys, oh my! Epinetrons could also be called onoi (donkeys) because they were affixed to a women’s thigh like a saddle while she was working.
There is a bit of mystery surrounding these vessels. While the clay epinetrons (others existed as leather or wood) are the only ones that survived, it’s unclear if they were actually used for wool working. It’s more likely that they were given as wedding gifts that could be used as offerings at sanctuaries or during burials. (National Archaeological Museum)
Next Friday, 2/23, the AMCA Mobile Lab will be hosting it’s second Pop Up museum at the table inside Starbucks. Come check out the dachshund-sized epinetron, as well as other cool artifacts we’ll be bringing from out museum collection!