Lèbes gamikòs

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Image:Women bath Asteas Lebes gamikos MAN Inv11445 n1.jpg, {{circa|340}} BC, National Archaeological Museum of Spain]]

The lèbes gamikòs or "nuptial lebes" ({{plural form}}: lèbetes gamikòi) is a form of ancient Greek pottery used in marriage ceremonies (literally, it means marriage vase).{{cite web|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0004:id=lebes-gamikos|title=lebes gamikos|access-date=4 January 2019}}{{cite web|url= https://2trauringe-gold.de/traditionelle-hochzeitsbraeuche-aus-bulgarien-und-griechenland/|title= Traditionelle Hochzeitsbräuche aus Bulgarien und Griechenland|date= 8 July 2018|access-date=4 January 2019}} It was probably used in the ritual sprinkling of the bride with water before the wedding. In form, it has a large bowl-like body and a stand that can be long or short. Painted scenes are placed on either the body of the vessel or the stand.

One of the earliest lèbetes gamikòi was apparently painted by a follower of Sophilos ({{circa|580}}–570). It was decorated with the wedding procession of Helen and Menelaus.{{cite book|last1=Boardman|first1=John|title=Athenian Black Figure Vases|date=1974|publisher=Thames & Hudson|isbn=9780500181447|series=World of Art|page=19}}

A typical lèbes gamikòs shows wedding scenes{{cite book|last1=Boardman|first1=John|title=Athenian Black Figure Vases|date=1974|publisher=Thames & Hudson|isbn=9780500181447|series=World of Art|page=190}} (including mythic weddings such as the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, but the iconography can also be related to scenes such as mimes).