Corinthian Alabastron

A double-bodied panther stares out from this black-figure _alabastron_ (oil container). The hybridized monster has a single frontal face and two confronting bodies. Hybrid monsters were a favorite image for Corinthian vase painters, and the symmetrical placement of figures was common. However, the idea of using one head for two bodies is comparatively rare. Incision is used to mark details of musculature, as well as for the fur on the necks. Rosettes fill the area around the creature, a motif also typical of Corinthian painted pottery of this period.

Small alabastra were used to hold scented oil. Olive oil in particular was treated with aromatic plants such as rose, sage, coriander, and pomegranate. Since this was a valuable luxury item in the Mediterranean, it was usually stored in bottles with narrow necks that could control the flow of the liquid.