The thymiaterion was used in Antiquity as an incense burner or altar for spiritual and religious purposes and especially in religious ceremonies. Thymiateria were widespread across the Mediterranean and Near Eastern area and could take a wide variety of forms, ranging from simple earthenware pots to elaborate carved, moulded or cast items made from clay or bronze. This beautiful example of ceremonial incense burner comes from the Greek colonies in South Italy, more precisely from Apulia, modern Puglia.
To discover more about Ancient Greek pottery, please visit our relevant blog post: Collecting Ancient Greek Vases.