Glossary
alabaster. Fine-grained translucent marble used in Egyptian sculpture during the Greco-Roman era.
alabastron. Perfume vessel with a rounded base and constricted neck.
amphora. Storage vessel with two handles connecting the pot's neck and shoulder.
aryballos. Squat perfume vessel with a rounded base and constricted neck.
black-figure technique. Technique for decorating pottery by painting figures with slip that fires black.
cartonnage mummy. Mummy that has been encased in linen wrappings soaked in plaster.
cataracts. Areas of rocky outcroppings along the Nile.
contraposto. Renaissance Italian term used to describe the weight-shift pose found in ancient Greek art.
dinos. Large, round-bottomed wine-mixing vessel.
dynasty. Family of leaders in ancient Egypt.
encaustic. Painting technique where pigments are suspended in wax.
faience, or Egyptian blue. Unique Egyptian self-glazing compound of mostly silica and natron.
Faiyum. Area in Egypt's delta region.
gesso. Mixture of chalk and glue, sometimes used as a ground for painting.
granodiorite. Extremely hard stone with properties similar to granite.
hieroglyphic inscription. Inscription written in hieroglyphs, the picture-based writing used in ancient Egypt.
himation. Cloak worn in ancient Greece.
hydria. Water jar.
ka. The part of the soul that stays in the tomb.
khepresh. Sometimes called the "blue crown" or the "war crown," it is shaped like a close-fitting helmet.
kithara. Harp used in ancient Greece.
kohl. Mineral pigment used in eyeliner in ancient Egypt.
kouros (pl. kouroi, f. kore). An idealized, youthful male figure.
krater. Wine-mixing vessel.
kylix. Wine cup with a stem and wide bowl.
lekythos (pl. lekythoi). Tall, round jug for perfume.
loutrophoros. Water pitcher used for bathing ritual.
Lower Egypt. The northern part of Egypt.
millefiori. Venetian term meaning "thousand flowers."
nemes headdress. Striped headcloth worn mostly by Middle Kingdom pharaohs.
peplos. Garment worn by young women in ancient Greece.
pharaoh. Term for a king taken from the ancient Egyptian words per ah, meaning "great house."
philosopher. From the Greek, meaning "a lover of wisdom."
red-figure technique. Technique for decorating pottery where figures are outlined in slip.
sarcophagus (pl. sarcophagi). Stone coffin.
scribe. Literate bureaucrat in ancient Egypt.
slip. Watered-down clay.
Stoic philosophy. A belief that a person can emulate the calm and order of the universe by learning to accept events with a stern and tranquil mind.
toga. Garment with a curved hem worn by Roman citizens.
Upper Egypt. The southern half of Egypt.
uraeus. Image of a cobra worn on a headband as part of pharaonic regalia.
white-ground technique. Technique for decorating pottery where figures are painted on a white, chalky, unfired surface.