KORYPA

 

Korypa was an earthenware storage pot like the stamna, albeit with a tall, narrow neck and two vertical handles. During the 18th and 19th century, korypes were used to store oil, butter and water. In more recent times, vessels of this type were predominantly used for the storage and transport of water to the fields or to the workplace of farmers, herders and any other craftsmen working outdoors. The narrow neck of this vessel is related to its function as a transport vessel.

​

At Paphos the name korypa was used for other types of vessels like the kouza and the vatta. At Famagusta, a renowned pottery production centre in Cyprus, two different types of water storage and transport vessels were in production: the kouza and the korypa. Like the kouza, the korypa had two ear handles, but a narrower neck, and was being produced in three distinct sizes: the meza, the mezoksoproti and the ksoproti, the latter reaching a height of 75 centimetres. After 1950, the korypa was also being marketed as kouza stenolaimi (narrow-necked kouza). It was also known as lainovatta.

​

The korypa from the Bee and Embroidery Museum was manufactured at Famagusta, as the characteristic open light brown to buff clay colour indicates. Beneath the handles, towards the widest part of the body, the vessel is decorated with wavy band consisting of dense, parallel lines (combed decoration).