An oinochoe is a form of ancient Greek wine jug, which would likely have been used at the symposium (a male drinking party). The trefoil lip allows for the careful pouring of the contents, and adds to the aesthetic value of the jug.
Southern Italy was populated by a large number of Greek colonies from the 8th century BC onwards – so much so that the Romans referred to the area as Magna Graecia – ‘Great Greece’. These Greek colonies were instrumental in bringing Greek culture and thought to Italy, greatly influencing Roman literature, philosophy, and material culture in turn.
