Angeion

Angeion is a Greek noun (angeion, αγγεῖον) that means a vessel or container. In classical Greek, it referred to any container used to hold liquids or solids, including jars, bowls, cups, and other domestic vessels. The term is generic rather than designating a specific form, and it appears widely in literary, documentary, and inscribed texts.

In historical and religious contexts, angeion often denotes vessels used in daily life, sacrifices, or offerings. For example, it can describe ritual or ceremonial vessels as well as ordinary household containers. The word is commonly encountered in ancient Greek and Koine Greek, including early Christian and Septuagint-era texts, where it retains its broad sense of a container.

In archaeology and art history, angeion serves as a descriptive category for unidentified or non-specialized ceramic vessels discovered at sites. While archaeologists distinguish more specific vessel types—such as amphorae, hydriai, and kylixoi—the general term angeion helps catalog finds that do not fit a narrower form.

Etymology and related terms: angeion derives from Greek αγγεῖον, literally “vessel” or “container.” It is related to the broader vocabulary for pottery and domestic ware in the ancient Greek world. Related terms in studies of ancient material culture include amphora, hydria, and lekythos, which denote more specific vessel shapes.

See also: amphora, hydria, kylix, pithos, Greek pottery, ancient Greek trade and daily life.