Patera

In the

The form of libation called spondē is typically the ritualized pouring of wine from a jug or bowl held in the hand. The most common ritual was to pour the liquid from an oinochoē (wine jug) into a phiale.^[8] Libation generally accompanied prayer.^[9] The Greeks stood when they prayed, either with their arms uplifted, or in the act of libation with the right arm extended to hold the phiale.^[10] After the wine offering was poured from the phiale, the remainder of the contents was drunk by the celebrant.^[11]

In Roman art, the libation is shown performed at an altar, mensa (sacrificial meal table), or tripod. It was the simplest form of sacrifice, and could be a sufficient offering by itself.^[12] The introductory rite (praefatio) to an animal sacrifice included an incense and wine libation onto a burning altar.^[13] Both emperors and divinities are frequently depicted, especially on coins, pouring libations from a patera.^[14] Scenes of libation and the patera itself commonly signify the quality of pietas, religious duty or reverence.^[15]

• 
  Octopus and dolphin motifs on a ceramic phiale (510–500 BC, from Eretria, Euboea)
• 
  kylix

  , c. 460 BC)
• 
  Silver phiale with Amazonomachy (430-420 BC, Vassil Bojkov collection, Sofia, Bulgaria)
• 
  Gold phiale with

  repoussé bees, acorns, and beechnuts and Greek and Punic inscription (4th–3rd century BC, Met)^[16]
• 
  Etruscan priest with phiale (2nd century BC)
• 
  Silver patera from

  Roman Spain

  ), 2nd–1st century BC)
• 
  Patera with Marcus Aurelius (Georgia, 2nd century AD)
• 
  Roman priest,

  capite velato

  (2nd–3rd century AD)
• 
  Silver patera from Syria with figures from the founding of Rome (2nd century AD, British Museum^[17]

Architecture

In architecture, oval features on plaster friezes on buildings may be called paterae (plural).^[18][19]

See also

• Parabiago patera
  , which is actually a platter or plate

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Patera and Libations.