Askos Benacci, 3D Model

The Benacci Askos is one of the most famous objects in the Civic Archaeological Museum of Bologna. It comes from a tomb in the Benacci burial ground, where it was discovered in 1875. This "askòs," which means jug in Greek, is a terracotta vase shaped like an animal, with a pot-bellied body, a long neck, and a bull's head with curved horns. The vase was used to contain precious liquids, which were introduced through the opening at the back and poured out through the hole in the animal's snout. The handle is shaped like a horse mounted by a rider carrying a shield on his shoulders and a helmet on his head. The askos is also an extraordinary find because it documents the use of defensive weapons, rarely found in Bolognese funerary objects from the Villanovan period. The object, dated between the late 8th and early 7th century BC, features a refined decoration, executed on the clay before firing. The two terracotta wheels, found with the vase, may have belonged to the cart on which it was originally placed. The figure of the horseman indicates the importance of the deceased, while the imaginary animal likely alludes to the journey to the afterlife. This object was undoubtedly charged with religious and social significance. The iconography of the horseman reaffirmed the deceased's prominent role within the community.
 
Provenance: Bologna, Benacci Necropolis, tomb 525.
Dating: late 8th century BC.
Inv. 12791.