Melian pithamphora

After Alexander Conze found the first three examples of this type on the Cycladian island of Melos in 1862, he named them Melische Thongefäße (Melian clay pots) after their find spot.

A majority of researchers (such as Ingeborg Scheibler place their production on Paros, others on Naxos, others still (such as Thomas Mannack) think it possible that there were two varieties.

The long-time excavator of Paros, Otto Rubensohn, denied that there were any useful clay deposits on the island.

Their export stretches beyond the Cyclades to the Parian colony of Thasos, where imitations of the type have been found, and even to North Africa.

All the amphorae have a central image on the body, depicting animals, gods, heroes, and monsters.

The figural images are usually quite graceful and elegant; the painters used opaque watercolours in very great quantities.