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The frying-pans

Σύμμεικτα-Miscellanea

• Καλλέγια, Αντουανέττα Γ.

The frying-pans belong to a special category of vessels dating from the cycladic civilisation, and especially the PC II, known as the Keros-Syros phase. Their name is due to their shape which reminds of the homonymous modem kitchen utensils. A great number of these has been found in the Cyclades (mostly at Chalandriani, Syros), but also at Manika, Euboia, at various sites in Attica, at Lithares, Boeotia, at Pefkakia Volou and at Aghia Photia Sitias. Sherds decorated with patterns relevant to those of the frying-pans have been found in many other places of the Cyclades, Attica and northern Peloponnese. Several frying-pans of unknown provenance, today belonging to private collections in Greece and abroad, are supposed to have originated in the Cyclades. The majority of them have been found in tombs and only a few in houses. Since most of the frying-pans originate from the Cyclades and the neighbouring coastal areas, and only incidently from other places (Volos and Crete thought to be imports from the islands), the origin of the type for this vessel is located in the wider south Aegean region.The frying-pans are made of red, reddish or grey clay. Their outer surface is almost always decorated with beautiful patterns, made by hand or seal: impressed triangles, concentric circles, spirals, stars, fishes, sun and (for those from Syros) ships and genitalia. Their inner surface is never decorated, though their rims sometimes bear rectilinear decorative patterns. Apart from the clay frying-pans, there are some made of stone and two so-called frying-pans of bronze, found at Alaça Hiiyûk in Asia Minor.The use of the frying-pans has not yet been defined. They have been characterised as mirrors (Tilled in with water), toilet articles or trays for colours, drums for burial ceremonies (with parchments adjusted to their rims), incense burners, navigation instruments, supports or lids for other vessels, substitutes of figurines, implements for libations or religious ceremonies, plates (either for everyday life or just decorative).221

• History and Archaeology
• Arts

• Αρχαιολογία
• Pottery, Greek
• Τέχνη