Patera

In the material culture of classical antiquity, a phiale or patera (Latin pronunciation: [ˈpatera]) is a shallow ceramic or metal libation bowl. It often has a bulbous indentation (omphalos, "bellybutton") in the center underside to facilitate holding it, in which case it is sometimes called a mesomphalic phiale. It typically has no handles, and no feet. (A drinking cup with handles is a kylix. A circular platter with a pair of C-handles is not a patera, but a few paterae have a single long straight handle.) Although the two terms may be used interchangeably, particularly in the context of Etruscan culture, phiale is more common in reference to Greek forms, and patera in a Roman setting.

Silver phiale (620-590 BC, from Bayindir village, Elmali, present-day Turkey

Silver phiale (620-590 BC, from Bayindir village, Elmali, present-day Turkey

Octopus and dolphin motifs on a ceramic phiale (510–500 BC, from Eretria, Euboea)

Octopus and dolphin motifs on a ceramic phiale (510–500 BC, from Eretria, Euboea)

Patera (disambiguation)

A patera was a saucer-shaped Roman drinking vessel. In modern usage it describes something similar to a shallow bowl or deep dish.

Patera may also refer to:

Astronomy

In astronomy, a patera is a shallow circular feature on the surface of a planet or similar body.

Patera (gastropod)

Patera is a genus of land snails in the family Polygyridae.

The name is from the Latin patera ("a saucer"), and refers to the highly depressed, saucer-like shape of the shells of these snails. In addition to flattened shells, members of the group have an imperforate umbilicus and a single tooth on the parietal wall of the aperture.

These snails are known only from the eastern United States.

Species

Species include: