Lekythoi Recovered from The Necropolis of Kyme/İDÇ

A total of 32 Lekythoi recovered from the Early Iron Age necropolis of Cyme Ancient City constitute the subject of this study. All of the Lekythoi were recovered from a total of 29 graves. These graves are of 5 different types: carved cist, roof tile, simple earth, stone cist, and urne graves. Among these graves, mostly inhumation burials, only one is a secondary cremation urn burial. Various burial gifts accompany the Lekythoi within most graves. On the other hand, they may also be found as the sole items in some graves. All of the lekythoi are of the squat Lekythoi type in form. Nevertheless, the decoration repertoire of the lekythoi is quite diverse. The lekythoi within the scope of the study are divided into five sub-groups according to these decorative features. Group 1: “Net Patterned,” Group 2: “Palmette Patterned,” Group 3: “Banded,” Group 4: “Figured,” and Group 5: “Undecorated.” The study's main objective is to determine the typology of the graves in which the Lekythoi were found and the types of burial practices. Another aim is to assess the groups formed based on the form and decoration characteristics of the lekythoi. Generally, the evaluated samples are dated between the 5th and 4th century BC. The Lekythoi subjected to the study were tried to be evaluated holistically in line with these objectives. In this way, it is aimed to contribute to the data accumulated in the literature.