Choes

Refers to one of the most common forms of oinochoe. This type is usually red-figured and features a trefoil (three-spouted) mouth and bulbous body continuously curved from neck to foot. The chous was a standard unit of measure, equivalent to about 3.28 liters. The chous was especially associated with the Anthesteria, an Athenian festival celebrating wine, the wine god Dionysos, and the dead. The second day of the festival was called 'Chous.' It was customary during the festival to drink from choes and to pour libations from them at tombs. Miniature red-figured choes, decorated with scenes of children at play, were probably festival gifts to children or gifts offered at a child's grave.