Calathus (basket)

A calathus /ˈkæləθəs/ or kalathos /ˈkæləˌθɒs/ (Ancient Greek: κάλαθος, plural calathi or kalathoi κάλαθοι) was a basket in the form of a top hat, used to hold wool or fruit, often used in ancient Greek art as a symbol of abundance and fertility.

In Roman times, there are reports for baskets of these sorts to be used in agricultural activities like bringing in the fruits from the fields.

Literary sources report that, depending on the context, the calathus could contain wool, but also food (bread, cheese, milk, fruits and vegetables), small animals or flowers.

A silver calathus with a golden rim is mentioned by Homer as belonging to Helen, this one even ran on wheels.

[8] In Cyprus, a fragmentary figurine of a woman wearing a crown (polos in the shape of a calathus) has been identified as Aphrodite.

Apulian calathus in Gnathian style , circa 325-300 BC, Metropolitan Museum of Art .
Woman hand spinning ; a calathus on the ground. Attic red-figure lekythos, 480–470 BC.
Scythian Calath crown high tall cylindrical headdress from the Tovsta Mohyla kurhan