Woman performing the oklasma

This terracotta vessel is in the form of a dancing woman, playing a drum (tympanon). Her clothes are of a type usually worn on representations of Orientals. The dance is referred to by Xenophon who claims it has a Persian origin. The oklasma was popular from the late 5th century onwards and was probably performed by courtesans. Made in Athens Description Terracotta scent-bottle in the form of a winged woman dancing. The woman wears Persian or Phyrgian garments and holds a tambourine. She is probably dancing the oklasma, a dance of Persian origin according to Xenophon. This was danced by hetairai and was popular from the late fifth century onwards.