Terracotta Hadra hydria (water jar)

227 BCE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 171
inscribed on obverse "By Sarapion; year 20; Hegesias son of Aglophanes"
inscribed on reverse "[Hegesias son of ] Aglophanes of Keos; year 20; Apellaios"

The date of this hydria is provided by two inscriptions. The name Sarapion, an official in the court of Ptolemy III (ruled 246-221 B.C.), who supervised the funerals of those who died while on state visits to Alexandria, and the Greek letter "Kappa," which stands for the number 20 and indicates the specific year of Ptolemy's reign, 227/6 B.C.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Terracotta Hadra hydria (water jar)
  • Period: Hellenistic
  • Date: 227 BCE
  • Culture: Greek, Ptolemaic, Cretan
  • Medium: Terracotta
  • Dimensions: h. 18 in. (45.7 cm); d. 10 7/8 in. (27.6 cm)
  • Classification: Vases
  • Credit Line: Purchase, 1890
  • Object Number: 90.9.38
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

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