July 31 - Another great fishing tourney tonight, here were our winners 1st place got personalized bamboo poles, 2nd got personalized creels, and 3rd got personalized tackle boxes all done by Bertrum himself, and best story got a jumping fish pin:

Best Fish Tale:  Tusk

Amateur Anglers       1st:  Pamico 2nd:  Silven 3rd:  Rosemarrie

Anglers 1st:  Dordie 2nd:  Gabit 3rd:  Attucus

Master Anglers 1st:  Llorien

Lubricus was heard to be around this morning so Dearcy, Pamico, and Goldenmane and Vorok, Pickoer, and Llorien flew up to Varkiza castle and knocked on the door.  They yelled back and forth through the door, and he made it obvious he didn't want them bothering him by sending an elite guardsmen to take care of them.  More guards showed up, then more Athenians, the whole time Lubricus hid behind the door yelling insults.  After the fighting was over Lubricus finally showerd himself, folks traded more insults, he shot Dearcy with an arrow, then slammed the door in their faces.  Thanks for the update Dearcy, Vaftel, and Llorien.

July 30 - A bunch of tired legionaries, green recruits, stern-faced centurions, and raiders showed up attacking the gate tonight.  After a few waves of them Harukia made his appearance and his typical early death.  Collin showed up after all this to let us know he attacked because he was "bored".  Norticles was also here during part of this holding court.  Thanks for the news Vaftel and Dearcy.

July 29 - Lubricus was spotted in Athens this afternoon and of course everyone ran to his castle where they were attacked by the usual assortment of guards and the like.  When Lubricus came out he was ambushed, but quickly made short work of all the agressors saying that he just wants them to leave him alone and quit hanging around his castle.  He also claims he doesn't want Athens, he just wants our women as compensation for the trouble we cause him.  Thanks Leanna.

Seems a bunch more undead mean things decided to attack early this morning.  Death warriors and death knights with really big greatswords attacked the areas around Thebes and down toward legionaries.  Thanks for the news Vaftel.

July 28 - Fedmire was back early this morning finishing up alterations.  Almost as soon as he was done, Discord popped out of the blue and started zapping folks.  The graveyard was also swarmed with spiders, plague fiends, skeletal warriors, and a few other undead who's names escape me.

July 27 - Skeletal warriors and plague fiends ravaged Athens today.  During the battle we went to check Thebes on a whim, plague fiends and all... kinda just put two and two together.  Around the north section of town we stumbled across a path leading to some battlefield in which can be found the skeletal warriors and plague fiends.  These guys are good brawlers and you'll find yourself on the ground in a second with an arm bar so be careful.  I have posted the map on my Odhos Boeotia Map, check the map section.

Fedmire showed up this morning after the weapon damage forum was over.  He made an announcement that his tent was set up and folks ran around searching for him again.  He had ten openings on his list which all soon filled when his tent was spotted just past his old flea market.  HAlfway during the alterations though he passed out drunk and Sage had to come close up shop for him.

July 26 - Lubricus showed up this afternoon in Athens, supposedly saying he was training a new bodyguard.  Soon after he disappeared the Peiraic and Halade gates were attacked with wave after wave of guardsmen, gurdsmen leaders, elite guardsmen, conscripts, and forward scouts. Seems Lubricus was also in the Hall of Audience in the Palace this morning holding a list of slaves and looking for an authority figure.  When none showed he told everyone they were doomed and popped back into his castle.  Thanks for the news Vaftel.

Waldern popped in and told us a bit about the new weapon damage system as promised and set up an official forum on it for tonight (Monday the 26th) at 11 PM EST.  Early this morning there were also odd things happening at the bar and well... thumping coming from objects and ammunition appearing on the ground.  There was also someone or something running around invisible and touching women.  And thank you to Vaftel for letting me know that Sisoclyes also showed up and did 5 alterations, she says she'll be back in the next week or so.

July 24 - A forward scout came tonight and was running all over town before finally stopping at the Halade Gate.  He said he had something to tell us about Lubricus attacking, as soon as he looked ready to tell us we heard Lubricus yell, "Now!" and we were ambushed.  From then on it was wave after wave of forward scouts, guardsmen, guardsmen leaders, and elite guardsmen... all under Lubricus' command the entire time.  Seems there was also a bodyguard at some point too that Lubricus sent out to kill the "quaff boys" and the "freak giant", and spies attacked on the 22nd but tonight was the first I heard about it.

July 20 - Fedmire showed up early this morning after cutting his surfing vacation short when he heard that Sasebo was in trouble.  He checked all her usual stomping grounds but there seems to be no sign of her around anywhere.  After telling folks there had to be some way to lure her out of hiding, he started discussing an idea for a new product.  Seems the women where he was surfing wore nothing but a few small pieces of cloth to cover themselves, but he can't think of a name for it so he needs to ponder that before he puts them on the market.  Finally after falling asleep, the bluebird came and carried him away.  Thanks for the news Vaftel.

July 19 - Wanderstar and Mathuna showed up tonight for an impromptu alchemist meeting.  Basically they told us they couldn't tell us anything, but they asked for our feedback and suggestions and noted them, so it's good to see folks listening at least.  Before leaving they said not to worry, they'd be doing more of these meetings in the future.  As soon as they left Norticles showed up and opened up court once again.  Seems he was in a pun mood, as he kept making some pretty good (or bad as the case may be) ones about bears and cats and the like before he finally tired of schmoozing with the commoners and left.  The premium merchant from this month's event has also opened up just outside of the Estate.

Early this morning a buncha of baby black spider showed up at the gate.  When they were all fought off then some massive black spiders attacked.  As if this weren't enough, some black widows skittered in after them and also attacked everybody.  Then a bully waltzed in, began to advance on Vaftel, and I guess thought better of it cuz he ran off.  During all of this there were a few random lightning strikes to keep people on their toes.  Rumor is that someone saw Sasebo running around, but nobody could find her.  Thanks for the update Vaftel.

July 17 - Waldern showed up to his flogging tonight, dressed in torn leathers and shackles and manaceles and the whole bit... shaggy beard, rings under the eyes...  Before everyone got their stones thrown in though I took my place on the soap box... err, barrel, and made what must have been a moving speech in his defense.  As soon as I was done people strode forward and siad to flog them, because if what he did was wrong then they are Waldern too, pretty much in the vain of Spartacus... or Hercules on Trial, hehe.  At any rate, Waldern got out of there with a flogging, Bonk was very much looking forward to a clogging though and was kind of disappointed.  He says he is very positive that he can get it out within the week and that he will hold a forum to answer questions about it and let us know how it works at that time.

Lubricus and Discord were caught today in her temple schmoozing with Discord.  Seems they're an item now, he called her "Lovey" or some such, and of course she made him stronger.  After some insults and attacks, Lubricus killed Pickoer which was handy since he seems to like Llorien and it gave him a chance to hit on her without Pickoer in the way.  They both left the temple and Lubricus showed up at the gate again.  He kept asking to see the man in charge of Athens and the slavemaster so he could collect what was owed him... women (or cattle as he refers to them).  After killing some folks for attacking him and insulting some folks and taking quite a few insults back, he decided to leave because he was tired of talking to us "dopes".  Discord was apparently off somewhere causing trouble with basalt guards and zapping folks while this was going on also, and Vaftel reported a talking Viking.

July 15 - Lubricus showed up in the bar today with a little black book, eyeing up all the women and making some notes before leaving.  He did this one other time, making some changes apparently, before he was heard yelling that he'd be back to collect on his shopping list later.  Thanks for the additional info Leanna.

Seems Discord crashed the roleplaying seminar last night and killed a few folks, that's about all I know about that.  Norticles showed up this morning and held court at the gate.  Several silly things were discussed as usual before he scampered off... prolly tired of all the job inquiries.  Soon after this Sabbie, the girl with the poison playball of doom, showed up at the gate for a little chat, after several folks poisoned themselves on her ball.  A few interesting things brought up were that her father's name is Gastrus, he ate her mother, she hopes Discord will be her new mother and she seems to be tutoring her by playing games of hide and seek , her father is destroying Fedmire and Sasebo's village Woodhaven, and she saw Discord chasing a swan the other day.  She left and lots of red bears and a grizzly bear and black bears attacked us at the gate and inside the bar.

July 13 - Some roguish type guy named Defalcatus showed up at the Sapphire Estate this afternoon selling some nifty copies of Stormy the cat's claws.  While I don't think they're good for skinning bears or dicing sewer rats, they seem to be pretty good at picking locks on boxes.  After he sold them to the folks that wanted and could afford them, he played a game of hide and seek with everyone to allow them a chance to buy a second.  These claws were made out of silver and therefor a tad bit costly, 140 dinars a piece.  Thanks for the news Pickoer.

July 11 - Ares also made an announcement tonight, saying that critters will now struggle from holds and attack summond creatures... I guess this includes mules so be careful!  There was also an invasion by Harukia with a bunch of alley cats, roof rats, dire wolves, brawlers, and seasoned soldiers.  He of course, once again, died... making up for survivng his last bout with us.  Thanks for the update Dhunter, Jenus, and Garrock.

A few odd things were happening in the bar early this morning, like chickory roots whimpering as they were being brought out to be crushed for elixirs and such.  Later who should show up, but that insane King of Athens Norticles himself.  He hopped up onto a bar stool and claimed that court was open.  After such wise desicions as filling the potholes in the roads with geraniums and declaring that everyone should have a mermel pelt coat, he declared court convened for the night and left.  Sid got involved during all of this also, doing his best to discipline a few of the ne'er-do-wells in his bar by tossing em out on their ear.

Those horns were heard again, and that golden-antlered stag was spotted again too, and again more whelps and hounds and the like attacked.  A bit later a red ball with a brownish tint rolled through the gate.  When folks tried to take it, they found out that the brownish tint was from hemlock poison and proceded to die.  Soon a pretty little girl came through the gate to claim it and started playing with it, even throwing it at folks and stunning them.  She wouldn't tell anyone her name, but she said her father was a warlord that lived in some castle and that she was friends with Discord.  But it seems she lives in the wilds, and she's not too happy with us Athenians killing her friends... she even told Vaftel that bears would eat him for taking tigers' whiskers.

She says she refuses to live in the castle because her dad has mean friends that are always there and he keeps her mom locked up.  People of course assumed Collin and asked her several times if it was him, but when Vaftel brought up Lubricus she went silent.  Suddenly the voice of someone named Melindic called for "Sabbie" and she dropped the ball and dashed out of the gate... the ball followed on its own accord soon after.  Then the bears she promised would kill Vaftel attacked, they killed quite a few folks but were taken out finally.  On a side note, later Tkeeri was reciting a poem and Discord poofed down to mock it, nothing else beyond this.  Thanks for the update Vaftel!

Seems after this mess, someone named Herne (english for The Hunter) popped into the bar tonight and left immediately.  Then a gruff voice started telling folks not to believe anything Treyton was saying about hearing some voice by the sphinx.  So of course a group of folks went to the sphinx and were attacked again by those hounds, afterwhich they heard Cernunnos (the Celtic name for Herne) saying he only wanted to kill Treyton for lieing.  After this a horned man was seen jumping on a horse and riding away.  Much later that day Cernunnos had a chat with folks by the old hermit's house and a hound came in to kill Treyton.  Guess this means it's time for a Celtic Dieity Guide  too <whine>.  Thanks Heartsong and Leanna.

July 10 - Congrats to our newest couple, Lllorien and Pickoer!  They exchanged vows today on the Ship of Dreams just off the shore of Eleusis.  Wonderful ceremony, wonderful food, wonderful couple... and of course wonderful me was there too!

July 5 - Harukia came again and died again early this morning.  He attacked Vaftel and Bonk again, but this time half of Athens ran to help, just to turn around when he got killed in a few seconds.  Giant short-face bears attacked after he fell.  When we arrived back in town we were barraged with wave after wave of brigands, marauders, warriors, and brawlers all with sleep poison on their weapons.  Discord also showed up sometime during all this mess to make a comment on all the deaths, she must be enjoying herself.

Discord also arrived again later this morning after a cute baby mouse showed up and started biting and poisoning people, it was apparently Discord's mouse.  She sent the tiny mouse off and called a giant mouse which folks managed to kill just as Swan showed up.  Discord, saying that she recognized Swan and that she thinks Swan is more than she appears, grabbed her and ran off.  The whole time Swan was trying to escape and finally did.  Using the thought net they found out that Swan was running back to her village because she had no idea what Discord wanted with her and she wanted nothing to do with it.  She also mentioned her village was cursed, but said she could bring back people to help us with what's going on in Athens.  Thanks Vaftel.

Harukia again this afternoon, I'm sorry to say we didn't have anyone who could hit him so he made it out alive, maybe Collin will give him a raise so we get better stuff next time he dies!  He stopped a bit to chat with me, saying he was here for the entertainment... quite a nice man until he said he had to get back to work and nearly cut me down in one swipe.  After seeing that we weren't much of a challenge he muttered something about wanting a good warrior when he needed one and sent sturdy fighters, brigands and a marauder after us.  He also mentioned that Collin would be attacking us soon... I just hope he doesn't do it this time of day again.

July 4 - There were sightings this evening of a golden-antlered white stag, and hunting horns were heard all over the place.  Nothing has come of this yet, but there was an attack on the gate by red-eared white pups, whelps, and hounds.  Thanks for the update Vaftel.

July 3 - Harukia attacked again tonight.  Harukia died again tonight too.  Can this man ever pull off a successful invasion?  Seems he attacked Heemor, Garrock, Vaftel, and Bonk down near Anavyssos with a troup of rough and tumble soldiers and did what he did best, got himself sent to the underworld.  They also encountered a white tiger and the normal tigers were acting oddly apparently.  Thanks for the info Vaftel.

July 1 - Sems some guy named Lubricus was seen outside Piraeus tonight witha young girl named Summur who he said was her slave, she wearing a pair of broken manacles and an iron collar and crawling around because her leg was broken.  Lubricus was smacking  her around and dragging her all over the place while folks chased after her, finally Vaftel just decided to kill him, not before Lubricus could kill a few of us though.  After he was killed, and Discord showed up during this time at some point (you know how she likes violence), they put a splint on Summur's leg and went to a tavern in Piraeus.  There she told people that the collar she was wearing could only be removed by a god and that it was used to track her, and apprently Discord gave it to Lubricus.  She also told them that Lubricus is a warlord from Varkiza Castle and that he would be back and probably not be so easily beaten next time.  Thanks Dhunter, Llorien, and Vaftel.

And in case you haven't noticed yet we have some new combat messaging.  This is NOT the new combat system, just some nifty new messaging to spice up combat a little.  The wooden coin situation has also been remedied a bit.  Now you should only get wooden coins from hunting critters under 10 that you are 8 levels older than.  These coins mean, "hey you, go hunt something your own size instead of picking on little critters for their milk money" basically.

June 26 - Harukia showed up tonight sending wave after wave of mercenaries and mercenaries and soldiers.  And who woulda guessed it, Harukia was killed.  And then guess what?  Collin showed up to get revenge with more mercenaries and soldiers.  After the battle Collin started smooching all the girls around the gate, and even Garrock!,  and kept babbling about his secret citadel and that the final invasion would be soon.  Then Nisha showed up and he ran off with his tail between his legs.  Nisha told them that Collin's forces were gathering and that the location of his hideout would be revealed soon.   She also mentioned that his forces seemed to consist of watered down mercenaries and soldiers, and that he had a personal guard made up of assassins.   Thanks Dementius and Garrock for the update!

June 15 to 25 - Sorry for the lack of updates, but I believe this was due mostly to the lack of things happening.  I have been ill and my computer broke so it has been hard trying to keep track, but I'm back at 50% at least ;).  A few things that I heard happened during this time had something to do with hearing growls and crickets and squeaks and such coming from the well?  Nothing much beyond this, thanks to Apollonius, Llorien, and Dhunter for filling me in about the well stuff.

June 14 - Sisoclyes showed up again early this morning doing more alterations at the Sapphire Estate.  After making some comments about the ingredients of the new vial of Discord, she popped in and zapped me.  Then she came back later and zapped Garrock for no reason.  Then she came back once again and silenced and bound me, zapped Laia and Llorien and then poofed.  While she was there she mentioned that she was busy destroying Fedmire's tent, so like a good bunch of heroes we ran and checked it out.  There was a bunch of bullies in the tent, no problem right?  Well these bullies were about as tough as trolls, and they had greatswords.  Needless to say we were cut down pretty swiftly.

Some big mean giant chickens also attacked this morning, even meaner than the bullies.  I guess they were insulted at all the chicken jokes we kept making about Discord and didn't want to take it anymore.  Thanks for letting me know about em Hyzenthlay.

Discord showed up again tonight in Midgard and told Bonk and Vaftel she wanted to play a little game.  She sent them a bunch more of those mean bullies which killed Vaftel off pretty quickly, but he came back and he and Bonk finished them off.  She said something about Fedmire's tent again so they of course ran to check it out, and there was a viscious bully there even tough for Bonk.  After gathering folks from the gate, a lot of which who died, they started fighting the viscous bully, and when it died Discord of course sent more.  Finally she just made them all disappear, said she won the game, and poofed off.

June 13 - Quite a few hyena pups, mangy hyenas, and viscous hyenas attacked all over the lands today... everywhere from Thebes to Athens to Midgard.  Groans and growls were heard coming from Sid's bar, and when we went to check it out we found more pups.  One pup in particular kept whining like it was lost so we stopped attacking it.  It also stopped attacking for a while but started up again shortly after.  Nothing we could do would get it to follow us so we could help it get home.  Hercules was also spotted in Midgard by Westly and Pae.  They were looking for mushrooms to help Autolycus, how these'll help I don't know but if anyone knows it'd be Hercules.

They came to the Hero's Welcome and Hercules told us Fatima told him how to save Autolycus.  They poured some white wine on the floor and then some lichen dust from the Frogner Forest.  In a puff of smoke there he was, Autolycus in all his glory!  Hercules convinced him to give up the kronos stone he had and he crumbled it into dust, then he made Autolycus go unlock the gates to Thebes!  Oh, and he saved the little hyena pup too!  That just so... so... so Hercules!  Be sure to check out the map and price lists for Thebes.

After opening the gate, the brave folks of Athens soon found their way into the future.  A doorway to Renassaince Studios where there were all sorts of weird gadgets and wonderful sites to behold.  And hidden amongst all this junk were three prizes for lucky folks.  Congratulations to our three winners!
Jherle - The big winner that found the infamous Crew Vest!
Pae - Who earned herself a tax free month in the lands!
Garrock - Who got himself a life-size Xena made outta cardboard!

Sisoclyes also showed up at the Sapphire Estate after the big event and did some wonderful alterations for us.

A bunch of nasty stuff attacked the gate early this morning.  Wart-infested warriors, oozing undead bodies, and flea-infested bodies.  There were several waves of these critters before they finally stopped coming.  Thanks for the new Llorien.

June 12 - A huge group of wild eyed, young, and developed savages attacked the gate tonight using chipped tridents that were pretty tough to kill.  After getting rid of the first wave a chieftain arrived and started insulting us and making threats.  It seems they are after the kronos stone, someone paid them to find it for him, and they think we have it.  He said his "magic senses" told him it was near.  After killing some of us and another wave of savages he left.  

According to Vaftel quite a number of savages showed up later in the pawnshop in Gamlebyen too.  They chased Bonk, Vaftel, Alydyana, and Denada all over Midgard until finally the chieftain confronted them and made a challenge... fight him or fight his men.  They chose his men and when they were all killed I guess the chieftain decided he'd fight too.  Finally after he got all wrapped up in snakes he was also vanquished.

June 11 - A talking cat showed up at the gate late tonight looking for Autolycus.  It's name was Stormy and he follows Autolycus around in the shadows but says he has had trouble finding him lately.  He also said that he has heard people talk about the kronos stone and he has seen it himself but couldn't remember where.  After picking a troll box with his claws and saying Autolycus had a lot to learn from him, they took the cat hunting rats where it tore through them in one swipe with claws and teeth.  After the hunt he layed down in Sid's bar for a drop of milk and then left... coming back later as a normal non-talking cat, apparently he can only talk when the moon is right or some such.  Thanks Llorien and Leanna.

A woman named Swan came to the gate early this morning eating bananas and gooy honey.  When folks asked her where she had gotten it she replied from Fickles.  She told us that it was a place you buy food and that it was near some cliffs on the coast.  After more questions we found out that she had seen Varkiza Castle, Fedmire's tent, and a poor squirrel near the place.  I went and checked it out but found nothing.  She went off to hunt skeletons after this but got "bored" and wandered about trying to find this Fickles place again.  She found a cheetah and died.  A few of us went down to see what happened and she said she owed us and promised that she would find Fickles to repay us.

June 8 - Thebes is open ... Oops, false alarm... later this evening a bunch of lightning bolts started zapping people inside Thebes, and folks started getting sick.  In a panic, those that survived rushed back to Athens just in time for Hiram to arrive.  Seems a gate guard fell asleep on the job and we weren't supposed to be inside the city yet.  I also got a visit from a certain deathless god asking that my maps and guides remain in my head until the official opening... so my maps and price guides will be down until we're allowed back into Thebes.  Sorry for the inconvenience, but I really don't need to get zapped anymore than I have to!

June 5 - Sasebo arrived early this morning calling for help on the thought net.  After frantically searching all over Athens we finally got the bright idea to check Discord's temple where we were attacked by some very mean giant spiders.  We heard Sasebo's voice in her shrine and finally discovered a crack in the altar that led us to Sasebo and we got her out of there.  Although she was still blind, she soon got her sight back and we quickly started making plans to hide her again.  We decided it'd be a good idea to change her appearance, so now Sasebo is a green-eyed redhead, hehe... oh yeah and her name is Sasperilla or Eve.  Just as we were changing her skin tone to dusky, Discord popped in and Sasebo ran off in a panic.  Discord asked who it was, we all of course played dumb and she got mad, zapped a couple of us, and said we better watch those babies and poofed.  Seems Discord hears anything she wants, even when she isn't there so be careful what you see about Sasebo's whereabouts.  Discord found her last time because she heard someone in the bar saying where she was.

June 4 - People have been seeing strange things all over the lands lately.  Items appearing in their hands that they had thrown away, stuff popping into their hands out of their backpacks, invisible people handing them stuff, things appearing on the ground in front of them and disappearing from their hands, and even folks taking one step and ending up halfway across town.  I guess we're beginning to see the effect of the kronos stone.  Azreila also says she was given a plain amphora (like the one we used to trick Borris when he was after the one from Anavyssos) by a strange woman who wouldn't give her name or say where it was from.

June 2 - The following announcement was seen this monring... "Announcement: Attention thieves, mercenaries, legionaries, robbers, rowdies and your various pets. Due to your failure to decimate the Heroes of Greece, Ares revokes his blessing upon you. Henchforth you shall no longer be as "pumped up" causing your failure to be even more quickly rewarded by certain defeat. For the hamheaded among you this means you're much less healthy."  According to Astraea, this is a "significant change".

Discord also showed up in the bar asking us all where Sasebo was.  She swears she doesn't want to hurt Sasebo, she just wants to help... she wants the amphora to help fix the cursed vineyard she claims.  When we refused to tell her she began freezing people and giving us to the count of 3 before she zapped them away to Hades.  Finally she got fed up and just went off and zapped just about everybody and left in a huff.  Tkeeri chased her and Discord told her that she had two days or two hours to find Sasebo or everyone in Athens is going to die.  She came back a few minutes later and threatened Alydyana's babies, and told Tkeeri that she better work fast.

Later Discord was spotted in Nittedal Bygd where she caught Sasebo who she says she will keep until she tells her the whereabouts of the amphora.  She also said that the people of Athens would pay dearly for not helping her, as will the babies.  Thanks for the on the site coverage from Midgard Bonk.

June 1 - Maenads showed up at the gate tonight and kidnapped a few folks, Apollonius, Hench, Luross, and Yimphoba.  They said they were looking for Sasebo, and it seems they were on a giantwoman hunt, the maenads were grabbing anybody and everybody who looked like Sasebo, even friends of these people that they thought could give them information.  There were two people in a cavern the maenads took the kidnapped folks to named Pitthea and Staphylus, from the description it sounds like the area in Tiamat where we found Fox under that shrine with the maenads.  They apparently worked for Dionysus, and were looking for Sasebo and that crystal amphora she stole.  Nobody told them anything so I guess she's safe.   I guess the maenads got bored so they attacked the gate after all the captives were released.  Thanks Apollonius!

Later Vaftel and Tamboura saw Sasebo up in Nittedal Bygd.  She told them that the lightning that nearly hit him the other day was the work of Discord, and that she was outside of the abandoned house (which she is hiding in apparently) in Nittedal Bygd when some vikings started chasing her.  She also admitted that, yes, she did steal the amphora that the maenads were looking for and that the "stuff" in the amphora made her fight like a god, but it also wore off and made her really sick afterwards (blind spells and shortness of  breath).  She also mentioned that she hid the amphora somewhere in Athens.  Thanks Tamboura and Vaftel!