Description
| ITEM | Pyxis |
| MATERIAL | Pottery |
| CULTURE | Bronze Age, Canaanite |
| PERIOD | 1300 – 980 B.C |
| DIMENSIONS | 80 mm x 90 mm |
| CONDITION | Good condition |
| PROVENANCE | Ex Jerusalem private collection, acquired between 1975 – 1990. |
| BIBLIOGRAPHY | AMIRAN, R., Ancient Pottery of the Holy Land, p. 284 |
Canaanite vessels from the Bronze Age (circa 3300–1200 BCE) reflect the rich material culture of the Levant, particularly in regions corresponding to modern-day Israel, Lebanon, and Syria. These ceramics served both utilitarian and ritual purposes, ranging from everyday storage jars and cooking pots to finely crafted containers used in elite or sacred contexts. Among these, the pyxis—a small lidded container—stands out as a specialized form often associated with personal or ceremonial use.
The Canaanite pyxis was typically made of fine clay and shaped with careful symmetry. These vessels usually feature a cylindrical body with vertical sides and a snug-fitting lid, sometimes with a knob or handle for easy lifting. Their compact shape made them ideal for storing precious contents such as cosmetics, ointments, jewelry, or ritual substances. While pyxides are more commonly associated with later Greek contexts, the form has earlier precedents in the Canaanite Bronze Age world, where it likely served similar functions related to wealth, ritual, or burial.
Decoration on Canaanite pyxides varied. Some examples are plain, their value lying in the contents or the craftsmanship of the form itself, while others were embellished with incised lines, geometric motifs, or painted designs in red or black slip. Occasionally, zoomorphic or symbolic elements appear, connecting the vessel to religious beliefs or protective symbolism. The presence of such items in burial contexts suggests that pyxides held significant personal or spiritual value, possibly used in rites of passage or offerings to the dead.
