What is a pyxis?
A pyxis (πυξίς, plural pyxides) is a shape of vessel from the classical world, usually a cylindrical box with a separate lid.
How did the Athenian pyxis get its name?
The name derived from Corinthian boxes made of wood from the tree puksos ( boxwood ), that also came with covers. The shape of the vessel can be traced in pottery back to the Protogeometric period in Athens, however the Athenian pyxis has various shapes itself. At first, the two varieties of pyxis included the pointed and...
What does the constellation Pyxis represent?
It represents a mariner’s compass. Pyxis was one of the constellations created by the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in the 18th century. Lacaille named the constellation Pyxis Nautica, but the name was later simplified to Pyxis.
How many light years away is Pyxis?
It is a blue-white star approximately 880 light-years (270 parsecs) distant and around 22,000 times as luminous as the Sun. Pyxis is located close to the stars that formed the old constellation Argo Navis, the ship of Jason and the Argonauts.
What was a Greek pyxis used for?
Originally mostly used by women to hold cosmetics, trinkets or jewellery, surviving pyxides are mostly Greek pottery, but especially in later periods may be in wood, metal, ivory, or other materials.
Where was the gold pyxis found?
This wooden hexagonal pyxis (Greek for box) decorated with repoussé gold plate depicting lions chasing a deer was discovered in Shaft Grave V, Grave Circle A, Mycenae and dated to 1600-1500 BC . It is today part of the collection of the National Archaeological Museum, Athens.
When was pyxis made?
950–75. This exquisitely carved cylindrical box is believed to be one of the most accomplished works of a master from the palace of the Umayyad caliph 'Abd al-Rahman III (r. 912–61), who ruled most of the Iberian peninsula.
What was one very typical function of the white ground lekythos?
The Lekythos was used to smear perfumed oil on a woman's skin prior to getting married and were often placed in tombs of unmarried women to allow them to prepare for a wedding in the afterlife.
What was the pyxis of al-Mughira used for?
Pixides are known as luxury personal vessels given to members of the royal family and are thought to have been used for holding precious gems, jewelry, aromas, perfume etc.; however, the actual purpose of the pyxis of al-Mughira is unknown because there are no traces of any substance on the interior.
Who created the pyxis of al-Mughira?
Item DescriptionTitlePyxis of al-MughiraMaster Digital FileTIFF created by ARTStorDerivative Digital FileJPEG with long dimension resized to either 600 pixels high or 700 pixels widePhotographerDenny, Walter B.Copyright holderDenny, Walter B.13 more rows
Is pyxis a constellation?
Pyxis is a small and faint constellation in the southern sky. Abbreviated from Pyxis Nautica, its name is Latin for a mariner's compass (contrasting with Circinus, which represents a draftsman's compasses).
Who bought pyxis?
Cardinal Health Inc.Cardinal Health Inc., a big drug wholesaler, said yesterday that it had agreed to acquire the Pyxis Corporation, which makes automated pill dispensers for hospitals. The deal would involve a tax-free stock swap valued at $867 million, based on yesterday's closing price of Cardinal shares.
How much does a pyxis machine cost?
Costs. The total cost of the Pyxis® ADD system included the cost of the device (R$ 198,065.88; USD 85,153) and costs associated with cabinet-making and remodeling services (R$ 8,000.00; USD 3,439.40).
What did Athenians do with their dead?
After 1100 BC, Greeks began to bury their dead in individual graves rather than group tombs. Athens, however, was a major exception; the Athenians normally cremated their dead and placed their ashes in an urn. During the early Archaic period, Greek cemeteries became larger, but grave goods decreased.
How was the red-figure technique done?
This technique of vase painting is essentially the reverse of black-figure vase painting. In the red-figure technique, the background of a vessel's surface is coated with a black slip. The decorative figures are left to stand out in reserve, that is, in the red-orange color of the base clay.
When was the lekythos used?
This type of vase was in common production from around 480 B.C.E. until towards the end of the fifth century. Its popularity in this period may be related to the absence of any private gravestones in Attica from around 490-80 to 430 B.C.E.
What is Pyxis and omnicell?
Pyxis and Omnicell are automatic medication dispensing systems design to provide a secure method of efficiently providing medications while offering enterprise-ready integration in a decentralized manner. These systems are mainly used in hospitals and long term health care facilities.
How many stars are in the Pyxis constellation?
Alpha PyxidisBeta PyxidisGamma PyxidisTheta PyxidisDelta PyxidisEta PyxidisPyxis/Stars
How do you spell Pyxis?
0:051:00How To Say Pyxis - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTexas exes texas ex es texas ex es.MoreTexas exes texas ex es texas ex es.
History
Pyxis is positioned just south of the star Alphard in the constellation Hydra midway between Virgo and Cancer. Although it is completely visible from latitudes south of 53 degrees north, its best evening-sky visibility is during February and March in the southern hemisphere.
Characteristics
Covering 220.8 square degrees and hence 0.535% of the sky, Pyxis ranks 65th of the 88 modern constellations by area. Its position in the Southern Celestial Hemisphere means that the whole constellation is visible to observers south of 52°N. It is most visible in the evening sky in February and March.
Features
Lacaille gave Bayer designations to ten stars now named Alpha to Lambda Pyxidis, skipping the Greek letters iota and kappa. Although a nautical element, the constellation was not an integral part of the old Argo Navis and hence did not share in the original Bayer designations of that constellation, which were split between Carina, Vela and Puppis.
Facts, location and map
Pyxis is the 65th constellation in size, occupying an area of 221 square degrees. It is located in the second quadrant of the southern hemisphere (SQ2) and can be seen at latitudes between +50° and -90°. The neighboring constellations are Antlia, Hydra, Puppis and Vela.
Story
The constellation Pyxis was created by the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in 1751-52 during his exploration of the southern skies. He named the constellation la Boussole and later Latinized the name to Pixis Nautica. The constellation appeared under this name in the second edition of Lacaille’s chart in 1763.
Pyxis stars
Alpha Pyxidis is a giant star of the spectral type B1.5III. It has an apparent magnitude of 3.67 and is approximately 880 light years distant. The star is classified as a Beta Cephei variable, which means that variations in its brightness are a result of pulsations of the star’s surface.
Deep sky objects in Pyxis
NGC 2818 is a planetary nebula in Pyxis, created when a star in its final stages ejected its outer layers, which now appear as glowing gases. The remnant of the central star’s core remains as a white dwarf.
Facts, Location and Map
Story
Lacaille gave Bayer designations to ten stars now named Alpha to Lambda Pyxidis, skipping the Greek letters iota and kappa. Although a nautical element, the constellation was not an integral part of the old Argo Navis and hence did not share in the original Bayer designations of that constellation, which were split between Carina, Vela and Puppis. Pyxis is a faint constellation, its three brightest stars—Alpha, Beta and Gamma Pyxidis—forming a rough line. Overall, there are 41 …
Pyxis Stars
Deep Sky Objects in Pyxis