This round Canaanite jug is covered in a series of frenzied red lines that seem to buzz through time, the intersecting spaces broken up by a clearing of just three vertical marks at four spots along the jug’s body. The jug’s basket handle arches above the mouth’s large opening, while a short spout arises from the front, flaring slightly for an easy pour.
The little we know of ancient Canaan comes from the rich archeological record they left behind. This piece is an excellent example of the simple rites of ancient history, when the storage and transportation of water meant the difference between life and death in the arid realm of Canaan.