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{{Short description|Ritual bowl for libation}}
{{Italic title}}
{{other uses}}
[[File:Armazişkevi tabağı.jpg|thumb|''Patera'' from [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], likely depicting [[Fortuna]] (2nd century AD,<ref>[https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Simon_Janashia_Museum_of_Georgia_122.jpg Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia 122.jpg]</ref> [[Georgian National Museum]])]]
In the [[material culture]] of [[classical antiquity]], a '''''patera''''' ({{IPA|la|ˈpatɛra}}) or '''''phiale''''' ({{Langx|grc|φιάλη}} {{IPA|grc|pʰi.á.lɛː|}})<ref>There is no meaningful distinction between the two terms: Nancy Thompson de Grummond and Erika Simon, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=hQtbJyFCd40C&pg=PA171&dq=patera The Religion of the Etruscans]'' (University of Texas Press, 2006), p. 171; Gocha R. Tsetskhladze, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=HTSeiXqGKBwC&pg=PA239&dq=patera North Pontic Archaeology: Recent Discoveries and Studies]'' (Brill, 2001), p. 239; Rabun Taylor, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rCKm0OnZr0kC&pg=PA104&dq=patera The Moral Mirror of Roman Art]'' (Cambridge University Press, 2008), p. 104, 269; Rebecca Miller Ammerma, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=sqaKaLkSz94C&pg=PA64&dq=patera The Sanctuary of Santa Venera at Paestum]'' (University of Michigan Press, 2002), pp. 64, 66.</ref> is a shallow ceramic or metal [[libation]] bowl. It often has a bulbous indentation (''[[omphalos]]'', "belly button") in the center underside to facilitate holding it, in which case it is sometimes called a '''''mesomphalic phiale'''''. It typically has no handles, and no feet.

Although the two terms may be used interchangeably, particularly in the context of [[Etruscan culture]], ''phiale'' is more common in reference to Greek forms, and ''patera'' in Roman settings.<ref>''Patera'' is not to be confused with the Greek ({{Lang|el|Πατέρας}}) {{Lang|el-Latn|Patéras}} or Father.</ref> The form should be distinguished from a drinking cup with handles, and often a stem, of which the most common type is called a ''[[kylix (cup)|kylix]]'', and a circular platter with a pair of C-handles is not a ''patera'', though a few ''paterae'' have single long straight handles (see ''trulla'' below).

==Use==
[[File:Naiskos libation Ganymedes Painter MAN.jpg|thumb|190px|A youth pours a libation to the deceased within a ''[[naiskos]],'' a scene that may also represent [[Ganymede (mythology)|Ganymede]] serving [[Zeus]] ([[Apulian vase painting|Apulian]] [[Red-figure pottery|red-figure]] [[krater]], 340–320 BC)]]
{{further information|Ancient Greek vase painting|Pottery of ancient Greece}}
Libation was a central and vital aspect of [[ancient Greek religion]], and one of the simplest and most common forms of religious practice.<ref>Louise Bruit Zaidman and Pauline Schmitt Pantel, ''Religion in the Ancient Greek City'', translated by Paul Cartledge (Cambridge University Press, 1992, 2002, originally published 1989 in French), p. 28.</ref> It is one of the basic religious acts that define piety in ancient Greece, dating back to the [[Bronze Age Greece|Bronze Age]] and even [[prehistoric Greece]].<ref>[[Walter Burkert]], ''Greek Religion'' (Harvard University Press, 1985, originally published 1977 in German), pp. 70, 73.</ref> Libations were a part of daily life, and the pious might perform them every day in the morning and evening, as well as to begin meals.<ref>[[Hesiod]], ''Works and Days'' 724–726; Zaidman and Pantel, ''Religion in the Ancient Greek City'', p. 39.</ref> A libation most often consisted of mixed wine and water, but could also be unmixed wine, honey, oil, water, or milk.<ref>Zaidman and Pantel, ''Religion in the Ancient Greek City'', p. 40; Burkert, ''Greek Religion,'' pp. 72–73.</ref>

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 ''[[Oenochoe|oinochoē]]'' (wine jug) into a ''phiale''.<ref>Zaidman and Pantel, ''Religion in the Ancient Greek City'', p. 40.</ref> Libation generally accompanied prayer.<ref>Burkert, ''Greek Religion'', pp. 70–71.</ref> 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''.<ref>William D. Furley, "Prayers and Hymns," in ''A Companion to Greek Religion'' (Wiley-Blackwell, 2010), p. 127; Jan N. Bremmer, "Greek Normative Animal Sacrifice," p. 138 in the same volume.</ref> After the wine offering was poured from the ''phiale'', the remainder of the contents was drunk by the celebrant.<ref>Zaidman and Pantel, ''Religion in the Ancient Greek City'', p. 40.</ref>

In [[Roman art]], the libation is shown performed at an [[Glossary of ancient Roman religion#ara|altar, ''mensa'' (sacrificial meal table)]], or [[sacrificial tripod|tripod]]. It was the simplest form of sacrifice, and could be a sufficient offering by itself.<ref>Katja Moede, "Reliefs, Public and Private," in ''A Companion to Roman Religion'' (Blackwell, 2007), pp. 165, 168.</ref> The introductory rite (''praefatio'') to an animal sacrifice included an incense and wine libation onto a burning altar.<ref>Moede, "Reliefs, Public and Private," pp. 165, 168; Nicole Belayche, "Religious Actors in Daily Life: Practices and Related Beliefs," in ''A Companion to Roman Religion'', p. 280.</ref> Both [[Roman emperor|emperors]] and divinities are frequently depicted, especially on coins, pouring libations from a ''patera''.<ref>Jonathan Williams, "Religion and Roman Coins," in ''A Companion to Roman Religion'', pp. 153–154.</ref> Scenes of libation and the ''patera'' itself commonly signify the quality of ''[[pietas]]'', religious duty or reverence.<ref>John Scheid, "Sacrifices for Gods and Ancestors," in ''A Companion to Roman Religion,'' p. 265.</ref>

==Handled pans==
In Roman contexts ''patera'' is sometimes used for what is normally called a ''[[trulla (vessel)|trulla]]''. These are deep round pans with a single flat handle, for cooking and serving food. The [[Staffordshire Moorlands Pan]] is an example, although it has lost its handle.<ref>[https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/49791#1 Portable Antiquities Scheme]</ref>

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<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px" perrow="4">

File:Phiale Louvre L210.jpg|Octopus and dolphin motifs on a ceramic ''phiale'' (510–500 BC, from [[Eretria]], [[Euboea]])
File:Apollo black bird AM Delphi 8140.jpg|[[Cylix of Apollo]], who pours a libation (Attic [[white-ground]] ''[[kylix (cup)|kylix]]'', c. 460 BC)
File:Phiale69.1.jpg|Silver ''phiale'' with [[Amazonomachy]] (430-420 BC, [[Vassil Bojkov collection]], [[Sofia]], [[Bulgaria]])
File:Met, greek, gold phiale, 4-3rd cventury BC 01.JPG|Gold ''phiale'' with [[repoussé]] bees, acorns, and beechnuts and Greek and [[Punic language|Punic]] inscription (4th–3rd century BC, [[Metropolitan Museum of Art|Met]])<ref>"Gold phiale (libation bowl)," Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession no. [https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/255122 62.11.1]</ref>
File:Etruscan - Priest - Walters 541088.jpg|Etruscan priest with ''phiale'' (2nd century BC)
File:Pátera ibera de Perotito (M.A.N. 1917-39-1) 01.jpg|Silver ''patera'' from [[Hispania]] ([[Roman Spain]]), 2nd–1st century BC)
File:State Museum of History of Georgia (Tbilisi Archaeological Museum) 3.jpg|''Patera'' with [[Marcus Aurelius]] ([[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], 2nd century AD)
File:RMW - Opfernder Togatus.jpg|Roman priest, ''[[capite velato]]'' (2nd–3rd century AD)
File:Ancient syro-romanian silver Patera.jpg|Silver ''patera'' from [[Roman Syria|Syria]] with figures from the [[founding of Rome]] (2nd century AD, British Museum<ref>[https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=466042&partId=1&searchText=G70/19&page=1 British Museum Collection])</ref>

</gallery>

==Architecture==
In [[architecture]], oval features on plaster [[frieze]]s on buildings may be called ''paterae'' (plural).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-180013-22-north-street-kent|title = 22, North Street, Ashford, Kent}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.classicist.org/?p=1014 |title=Classical comments: the patera |author=Calder Loth |date=2010-10-05 |publisher=Institute of Classical Architecture & Art |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810012854/http://blog.classicist.org/?p=1014 |archive-date=2011-08-10}}</ref>

==See also==
*''[[Parabiago patera]]'', which is actually a platter or plate
*[[Piyāla]] - small ceramic easily stackable [[Bowl (vessel)|bowl]] used by [[Eurasian nomads]] people for drinking and [[libation]]s

==References==
{{Commons category multi|Patera|Libations}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

<br>
{{Greek Vases}}

[[Category:Ancient Roman religion]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek pot shapes]]
[[Category:Libation]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek metalwork]]

Patera - Revision history

imported>Dmoore5556: /* See also */ capitalization and wikilink