Cycladic frying pan

Description

Frying pans resemble skillets, with a diameter of 20 to 28 cm, a raised lip, and a handle. Decoration is concentrated on the outside rim and base, applied by stamping or incision. Motifs are mostly geometric, with some vegetal or fish designs, and occasionally boats with oars. Two types are distinguished: the Kampos type, with a straight side decorated with incised lines framing spirals, a rectangular handle with a crossbar, and a central star surrounded by running spirals; and the Syros type, with a concave undecorated side, a two-pronged handle, and decoration of stamped concentric circles or spirals, sometimes accompanied by incised longboats or motifs interpreted as female genitalia. Common patterns include large stars with circles or bands, triangular kerbschnitt rows, concentric circles, wheel-like patterns, grouped small spirals, and ships with paddles and fish banners.

Proposed functions

Proposed functions for Cycladic frying pans include scrying mirrors, home decorative items, drums, religious objects, or salt pans. No specimen shows physical wear from cooking use. The plate interpretation is neutral, as a plate could serve decorative or religious purposes. The drum theory is considered unlikely because drums typically require holes around the edge for stretching hide, and many handles would make holding the object difficult.

Prehistoric mirrors often have decorated backs but are usually made of reflective materials; proponents suggest that filling the pan with water or oil could create a reflective surface. A 2009 study found that the pans work effectively as mirrors when filled with water or olive oil, especially if the oil is darkened with pigment. Olive oil was long thought too rare and expensive for such use in the early Cycladic period, though recent discoveries on Keros—including a large pyramid, complex plumbing, and advanced metallurgy—suggest it may not have been as scarce.

Their presence in graves implies a possible symbolic or religious purpose. Given frequent depictions of female genitalia, some suggest they were receptacles for libations in fertility rites. Christos Doumas proposed in 1993 that they were used to process sea salt, linking this to trade before the invention of money, as salt would leave no archaeologically detectable traces.