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Ampulla (Flask) with Saint Menas

late 6th–mid-8th century
Not on view
Ampullae like this one were used by pilgrims to bring home water or oil from the great pilgrimage site for Saint Menas, said to be a late-third-century Egyptian Roman soldier who was martyred for his Christian faith. He is shown between the two camels who returned his body to Egypt for burial.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Ampulla (Flask) with Saint Menas
  • Date: late 6th–mid-8th century
  • Geography: Probably made in Egypt, Abu Mena
  • Medium: Earthenware; molded
  • Dimensions: H. 3 15/16 in. (10 cm)
    W. 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm)
    D. 7/8 in. (2.2 cm)
  • Classification: Ceramics
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1927
  • Object Number: 27.94.19
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
Pilgrim Flask with Saint Menas, Earthenware; unglazed
Pilgrim Flask with Saint Menas
4th–7th century
Pilgrim Flask, Bernard Palissy and workshop French, Earthenware with colorless and transparent or opaque pigmented green, purple, blue, yellow, red-brown, and black lead glazes.
Pilgrim Flask
Bernard Palissy
probably 1556–67
Ampulla (Flask) of Saint Menas, Earthenware; molded
Ampulla (Flask) of Saint Menas
late 6th century–mid 8th century
Ring flask (fiasca d'anello), Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware), Italian, probably Gubbio
Ring flask (fiasca d'anello)
Italian, probably Gubbio
ca. 1530–40
Textile fragment: walking ram with a neckband and fluttering ribbons, Wool, cotton, Sasanian
Textile fragment: walking ram with a neckband and fluttering ribbons
Sasanian
ca. 7th century CE

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