Bronze hydria with Dionysos and Ariadne

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This bronze water jar, an ancient Greek artifact known as a hydria, originated in Greece. The term "hydria" is derived from the Greek word for water, signifying its primary function: holding water. Typically used by women to carry water from fountains, their duties in classical antiquity revolved around fetching and storing this essential resource. As a result, hydrias were designed with functionality in mind, featuring two horizontal handles on either side for lifting and a vertical handle at the rear for dipping and pouring water. This particular artifact is intricately decorated with depictions of Dionysos, the Greek god associated with the grape harvest, winemaking, wine, ritual madness, fertility, theater, and ecstatic rituals. Alongside him stands Ariadne, his wife, who was also the lover of Theseus and played a crucial role in helping him defeat the Minotaur and escape the labyrinth.