Libation bowls appear in both hellenistic and Roman contexts, termed ‘Phiale’ or ‘Patera’ respectively. They were used to give ritual offering to the gods. The most common offering was wine mixed with water, but honey and milk could also be used. The wine would be decanted from a jug into the libation bowl; some would be poured on the ground for the offering and the rest may have been drunk by the worshipper.
The form of the bowl was specifically designed so that the underside of the omphalos would provide a convenient grip point for the user. Aside from its functional aspect, the bowl’s omphalos is also thought to have held spiritual significance. The word itself means ‘navel’ and is the etymological origin for modern terms such as umbilical. A sacred stone of Apollo, situated at the sanctuary at Delphi, was referred to as the Omphalos. It was thought at the time to be the centre-point of the world. The miniature form seen is this example could act as an evocation of this belief.
