The lebes, in Ancient Greece, was originally a deep bowl with a rounded bottom: it needed a stand to remain upright. In classical times a foot was attached, and it was typically used as a mixing bowl in food preparation. One translation of the word is cauldron.

The lebes gamikos was specifically a wedding bowl with looping handles; it is thought that it stood by the bride's door and may have been used in a purification ceremony. A metal (eg bronze)lebes could be a prize in athletic contests.

Ancient Greek pottery