Pilgrim flask

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Pilgrim flasks were used by pilgrims to hold small amounts of secondary relics such as hallowed oil, earth, dust or water. This earthenware example dates from the 5th to 7th century AD.

The figure on the front is Menas, an Egyptian soldier-saint whose shrine was at Abu Mena, south-west of Alexandria. It is said that two camels brought the body of the saint to Abu Mena, where they stopped and refused to go on.

Before the introduction of pilgrim flasks, precious shrines were often damaged by pilgrims breaking off bits of rock, stone and earth. To prevent such damage and to satisfy the growing demand for relics, the guardians of the shrines made available small amounts of hallowed oil, earth, dust and water, which were placed in small containers of ceramic or metal and sealed up.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-180-001-946-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland Part 2
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1956.238
• Date: Between the 5th and 7th century AD
  Coptic
  
• Material: Flask, pilgrim
  
• Dimensions: 102 mm H x 69 mm W x 24 mm mouth D; 20 mm body D
  
• What: Flask, pilgrim
  
• Subject: Vessels / Roman
  
• Who: St Menas
  
• Where: Ancient Egypt, Alexandria
  
• Event:
• Description: Pilgrim flask of light red-buff pottery, with a flat, lentoid body with flaring spout: Ancient Egyptian, from Alexandria, Coptic
  
• References:
  • Evans, G. Souvenirs From Roman Times to the Present Day. Edinburgh: NMS Publishing Ltd, 1999, pp 1-2. 
• Translations:
• Related Records: