The Silver Siege Rhyton is a silver vessel discovered in Shaft Grave IV of Grave Circle A at

Mycenae Mycenae ( ; ; or , ''Mykē̂nai'' or ''Mykḗnē'') is an archaeological site near Mykines, Greece, Mykines in Argolis, north-eastern Peloponnese, Greece. It is located about south-west of Athens; north of Argos, Peloponnese, Argos; and sou ...

and is dated to c. 1600–1500 BCE, or during the Late Helladic I period. The

rhyton A ''rhyton'' (: ''rhytons'' or, following the Greek plural, ''rhyta'') is a roughly conical container from which fluids were intended to be drunk or to be poured in some ceremony such as libation, or merely at table; in other words, a cup. A ...

was likely used for the transportation of libation for use in sacred ritual and is so named for its relief depicting an attack on a fortified town. The abundance of precious metalwork and weaponry both

votive A votive offering or votive deposit is one or more objects displayed or deposited, without the intention of recovery or use, in a sacred place for religious purposes. Such items are a feature of modern and ancient societies and are generally ...

and practical discovered in Shaft Grave IV suggests that it was the burial place of a warrior chieftain or a member of his family.

References

{{reflist Mycenaean art Archaeological artifacts 16th-century BC works Mycenae Ancient Greek metalwork