Pilgrim flask

MU3182 is a pilgrim flask, a common ceramic artefact found at many sites in the Near East and Mediterranean. It is a vessel with a lentoid body, narrow neck and two handles for suspension. The flask has been cracked around the base. The crack moves from the base, going up one side of the flask. It is made of a very gritty brown fabric. Pilgrim flasks were used to store water or oil collected from sacred sites visited by a pilgrim so that these may be kept and carried back home. This particular form of pilgrim flask is characteristic of the Iron Age I period, although it represents a tradition from the Late Bronze Age that continues into the Iron IIA-B. Pilgrim flasks were all created in the same way. First, two identical moulds were used to make the globular body with its flattened sides. Then, the two handles and the short slightly tapering mouthpiece was placed onto the vessel. The decoration on pilgrim flasks varies considerably depending on time period, context, geographic location and associated ancient cultures, although common motives across the Ancient Near East included hunting scenes, mythical creatures, floral motifs, knotted designs, inscriptions and heraldic emblems.