phiale

A phiale is a shallow, broad-rimmed bowl used in ancient Greek and later Mediterranean ritual contexts. The term comes from the Greek phialē, meaning a flat, open dish or bowl. In design, a phiale typically has little or no vertical handle and is optimized for pouring, though some examples feature a short stem or foot to stabilize the vessel.

Phialai were produced in a range of materials, including ceramic (terracotta) and metal such as bronze, and varied in size from small hand-held bowls to larger ritual vessels. They are often plain on the interior to facilitate pouring, while the exterior may bear geometric or figural decoration, depending on the period and workshop. In Greek and Etruscan contexts, phialai appear in both ritual and ceremonial settings, sometimes depicted in vase paintings engaged in libation scenes.

The primary use of the phiale was for libations—pouring wine, water, or oil as offerings to gods, heroes, or the dead during sacrifices, religious festivals, or funerary rites. Although associated chiefly with ritual administration, phialai also appear in broader ceremonial contexts, including processions and temple rituals. In Roman art and archaeology, similar vessels are often called paterae; the Greek phiale influenced this shape, and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably in general discussion of libation bowls.

In modern scholarship, phialai are identified by their shallow, open form and their function in pouring during ritual acts. They are distinguished from other drinking vessels such as kylixes and from larger serving wares, reflecting their specific ceremonial purpose.