You'll never be happy with your jewellery box again.

[[Pyxis]]

This charming little container dates from around the late Geometric period. It shows a series of detailed patterns around the bowl, more lines and criss-crosses on the lid, and on top, four horses.

Naturally, as with many objects from antiquity, dating and usage is uncertain. Judging from the style, it was probably made in the 8th century BC, since there is a strong emphasis on geometric patterns rather than drawings of animals that became common later.

Of course, one of the main visual appeals of this piece are the four horses on top of the pyxis, which function both as an ornament and a lid handle. They tell us about the owner of the piece and their interests: horses were expensive to keep, then as now, and so the only people who could afford them would be the aristocracy. Think of the warriors in Homer's Iliad : the greatest ones are often also princes, and ride in chariots. Horses were thus a sign of prestige in the ancient world.

This particular one can be seen in the British Museum; turn left as you walk in, go through the Cycladic art section, then turn right into the Greek art section. This little pot is on one of the lower shelves.