Skyphoi

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of ancient Greek deep drinking cup with two horizontal handles; a ceramic vessel commonly used for wine consumption in classical antiquity; an artifact often decorated with painted scenes or motifs
2. A broad, deep cup from ancient Greece characterized by two lateral handles; pottery used traditionally for drinking wine or other beverages; typically crafted from clay and adorned with artistic designs
3. A classical Greek ceramic cup with a wide body and paired handles for drinking; serving as a functional and decorative vessel in ancient social and ritual contexts; often featuring painted figures or patterns on its surface

Etymology: "Skyphoi" is the plural of "skyphos," a term English borrowed directly from Ancient Greek σκύφος (skúphos), the name for a deep drinking cup with two horizontal handles set near the rim. Since the word is a plain borrowing of the Greek noun, its most useful lesson is the original Greek sense: the cup itself, not any later extension of meaning. Because the plural follows the Greek pattern, "skyphoi" keeps the Greek ending -oi, which English speakers often reshape into "skyphoses" or "skyphos" for a single vessel. The Greek form is what scholars of pottery standardly use, so the plural is the one you will meet in museum catalogues and archaeological reports.

Synonyms: skyphos cups, ancient cups