Scaphium (vessel) explained

Scaphium (grc|Σκάφιον or Σκαφεῖον) was a shallow vessel without a handle. It was called like that because it was shaped like a small boat (σκάφιον in Greek was a small boat, for example a skiff).^[1]

These vessels could be:

• Drinking cup^{[1] [2]}
• Vessel which was used for dipping and pouring water over the body in the bath^[1]
• A primitive substitute for a concave mirror or burning-glass used to relight the sacred fire^[1]
• Chamber pot^[3]
• Concave sundial^[3]
• The reservoir of a Water clock^[3]

Notes and References

1. https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0063:id=scaphium-cn A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities (1890), Scaphium
2. https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0060:entry=scaphium Charlton T. Lewis, An Elementary Latin Dictionary, Scaphium
3. https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0059:entry=scaphium Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary, Scaphium