Along with kandiles, jars, and beakers, plain bowls are one of the most distinctive forms of Cycladic vessels. As the design is simpler and the shape is shallower than the former, the execution of such bows required less labor and time. The number of found plain bowls shows that these vessels were definitely more affordable and widespread. Although the exact purpose of them is unclear, their shape made them versatile: they could be used not only for storage, but mixing. Most of the examples whose provenance is known were found in a necropolis, often along with marble figurines; this might suggest that they could have served as cult vessels during funerary banquets, and then they were left inside the tomb as dedications. One cannot, however, exclude the possibility of their use in everyday life. Some could be used as cups and containers for food or other liquids. It was, however, observed that the rim thickened on the interior would have rendered the vessel impractical for drinking.
