TERRACOTTA PANATHENAIC PRIZE AMPHORA

This ancient vase holding precious olive oil was gifted to the victors of an ancient athletic contest

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Ancient Greece. 530 BCE

In ancient Greece as in the world of contemporary sports, the winners of various athletic competitions were given trophies.

And for these ancient athletes no prize was greater than the amphorae - large decorated vases. The vases contained olive oil - the real prize for the athletes -gathered from the sacred groves of Athena herself. Each vase would hold around 40 litres of oil.