with deeply hollowed blade and indented handle-plate.

After exercising or engaging in competition Greek athletes would scrape the dust off their body with a strigil. The process was facilitated by covering the body with olive oil prior to exercising. The curved handle allowed the strigil to be hung on the wall of the gymnasium, together with the sponge and the aryballos containing the oil (see Le sport dans la Grèce antique: du jeu á la compétition, D. Venhove, ed., Ghent, 1992, pp. 229-230, nos. 91-92).

Condition: Heavy losses to the curved area of the left of the blade, otherwise intact and in good condition overall.  Good green/brown patination.

Dimensions: Length: 21cm (8.3in).

Provenance: Paul Ilton private collection.