Kylikes

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkaɪlɪkiz/

Definitions

1. A type of ancient Greek drinking cup characterized by a broad, shallow body with two horizontal handles used for wine; also refers to the vessels' decorative and ceremonial significance in classical antiquity; sometimes denotes the artistic style showcased on these cups
2. A classical Greek ceramic vessel designed for drinking wine, notable for its wide, shallow bowl and horizontal handles on both sides; signifies an important cultural artifact associated with symposium rituals; frequently admired for the painted scenes adorning its surface
3. An ancient Greek pottery form serving as a wine cup with a distinctive shallow bowl and pair of horizontal handles; simultaneously signifies the ritual use in social drinking contexts and the vessel's role as a medium for painted artworks in classical pottery traditions

Etymology: "Kylikes" is the plural of "kylix," a shallow, two-handled drinking cup used in ancient Greece, and the plural form is simply the Greek-derived pluralization that English borrowed along with the singular. The singular "kylix" came into English directly from Ancient Greek κύλιξ ("kúlix"), meaning "cup," so the word has kept its original sense for its entire journey into the language. The Greek word itself is a plain, everyday term for a drinking vessel, and it was never a special name reserved for ceremonial or artistic objects. Modern scholars and museum curators adopted it to distinguish this particular shape, with its broad bowl and slender stem, from other Greek cups such as the kantharos and the skyphos.

Synonyms: kylix