Huge pithos caught by fishermen

TRABZON – Anadolu Agency

AA Photo

An ancient Greek storage container weighing nearly 300-kilograms was caught in the fishing net of a boat in the Black Sea province of Trabzon. The container, also referred to as a pithos, is believed to date back to the Byzantine Empire. 

Yaku Uzun, the captain of the boat Adem Baba 3, set off on the Black Sea and cast a net close to Trabzon’s Arsin district. Sometime later, the crew saw that they had caught a 1.5-meter-long pithos in the net and informed the Provincial Culture and Tourism Ministry. When the officials arrived at the Araklı Harbor, the pithos was loaded on a truck and taken to the Trabzon Museum. 

Ten museums workers, using elastics and sponges to prevent damage, removed the pithos from the truck after 45 minutes. 

Regarding the ancient pithos, the officials said containers of this side were used to save agricultural products and liquids such as wine and olive oil in ancient times. 

Uzun said they had been fishing nets in the Black Sea for years and were very excited when they saw the artifact. 

“We first launched the net in the afternoon but could not find fish. Then we launched again in the evening and saw the pithos in the fishing net. We first thought that we would find gold in it but it was empty,” the captain said.