A loutrophoros (
Ancient Greek: λουτροφόρος;
Greek etymology: λουτρόν/loutron and φέρω/pherō,
English translation: "bathwater" and "carry") is a distinctive type of
Greek potteryvessel characterized by an elongated neck with two
handles. The loutrophoros was used to carry water for a bride's pre-nuptial ritual bath, and in funeral rituals, and was placed in the tombs of the unmarried.[1] The loutrophoros itself is a motif for Greek tombstones, either as a
relief (for instance, the
lekythos on the
Stele of
Panaetius) or as a stone vessel. There are many in the funeral area at the
Kerameikos in
Athens, some of which are now preserved in the
National Archaeological Museum of Athens.
Attic black-figure loutrophoros-hydria; late 6th century BC
Attic black-figure loutrophoros-amphora with a
prothesis scene, 510-500 BC
Keramikos Museum, Athens, Marble loutrophoros from the grave of Agathon and Sosykrates
Apulian egg-shaped loutrophoros (Apulian typus I, variant I), 330 BC
Oversize ("huge") Apulian cylinder-shaped loutrophoros (Apulian typus II, variant I), 330 BC