"Kothon" King Spartan Warrior Mug, Two Books, "The Warrior Ethos" and "Gates of Fire" by Steven Pressfield, Autographed, and One Walnut Box by Offerman Woodshop

This is a limited edition kothon in a custom box. Only 10 exist. This mug was thrown on a pottery kickwheel by Joel Cherrico. It comes housed in a valuable, handcrafted box, made from walnut and oak, by Offerman Woodshop in Los Angeles, California, USA. Joel Cherrico commissioned 10 of these boxes for this limited edition style of kothon mug. He worked in collaboration with Offerman Woodshop to design this box to hold the mug and an autographed copy of The Warrior Ethos by Steven Pressfield. The mug is roughly 16 ounce size. The package also comes with Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield. Both books are autographed.

Since your mug is made to order, please allow 3-4 weeks before your mug, book and box ship to you from the Cherrico Pottery studio. Your mug will not match the photos exactly, but it will be in the same exact style.

Only 10 Spartan King Kothons will be made. Each will have one of 10 different quotes. You can choose between the following 10 quotes, until they are sold out:

1. THE SPARTANS DO NOT ASK HOW MANY ARE THE ENEMY BUT WHERE ARE THEY
2. THE SUPREME ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE WARRIOR: TO PERFORM THE COMMONPLACE UNDER FAR FROM COMMONPLACE CONDITIONS
3. THE REAL TEST COMES WHEN ALL STRENGTH IS FLED AND THE MEN MUST PRODUCE VICTORY ON WILL ALONE
4. THE HARDSHIP OF EXERCISE IS INTENDED LESS TO STRENGTHEN THE BACK THAN TO TOUGHEN THE MIND
5. A WARRIOR CARRIES HELMET AND BREASTPLATE FOR HIS OWN PROTECTION, BUT HIS SHIELD FOR THE SAFETY OF THE WHOLE LINE
6. HABIT WILL BE YOUR CHAMPION
7. THE OPPOSITE OF FEAR IS LOVE
8. FREEDOM IS PURCHASED NOT WITH GOLD, BUT STEEL
9. A KING DOES NOT REQUIRE SERVICE OF THOSE HE LEADS BUT PROVIDES IT TO THEM. HE SERVES THEM, NOT THEY HIM
10. SOLD OUT/Reserved for this Mug and Book Sale: PUT THE BODY INTO A STATE OF FEARLESSNESS AND THE MIND WILL FOLLOW

Mug, inside box, is wrapped in local, whitetail deer hide. In Steven Pressfield's book, Gates of Fire, Spartan King Leonidas sacrifices a goat just before the Spartans and their allies advance on the Antirhion army. We could have bought goat hide from any fancy fur supplier, to wrap the mug and fit inside the box, to match the story and aesthetics. But here in Minnesota, where Cherrico Pottery is made, whitetail deer hunting is part of our culture. Hunting is crucial for healthy wildlife management. Deer hide is better today ethically, and still interesting aesthetically. Amazingly, it protects the mug better than bubble wrap.

This kothon mug has a quote from ancient philosopher Plutarch, fired onto the side of the mug permanently, using unique glaze chemistry decal techniques. The mug also has a plume above the thumb spot, representing the Spartan King's helmet plume.

Each Offerman Woodshop box was made from walnut, with white oak inlay. You are correct, they are beautiful. Each box is sold "as is" and cannot be improved upon. If damaged, they can not be repaired. Boxes also have nature flaws and imperfections. They are not perfect. That is part of the art.

These mugs are inspired by the ancient Spartan warriors who fought in the famous Battle of Thermopylae, which happened almost exactly 2,500 years ago from August, 2020. Legend tells how 300 Spartan soldiers fought to defend their homeland against an invading army of millions.

Steven Pressfield is an acclaimed author who writes about ancient Spartan culture in his world renowned books Gates of Fire, The Warrior Ethos and more. Researching Spartan battle equipment, Steven became intrigued by one passage from Plutarch’s Life of Lycurgus. The passage is not about shields or swords or armor but about a common drinking mug.

"...the Spartan kothon or drinking cup...is especially valued for use on [military] campaigns. Visibly off-putting elements in [stream or river] water which had to be drunk were concealed by its color, while the dirt in the liquid was trapped in the lip, so that what reached the mouth for drinking was cleaner.”

No one today knows exactly what this ancient vessel looked like. Steven challenged potter Joel Cherrico to recreate a modern-day version.

Joel Cherrico handcrafted a mug with a wide base and black interior, with the shell tapering to a compact drinking lip. On the outside, Joel added a design inspired by the Spartan battle shields, which bore the Greek letter lambda. Lambda stood for Laconia (or Lacedaemon), the region of Greece of which Sparta was the principal city. It became a symbol of pride for the warriors of Sparta, and an emblem of terror for any force that had to face them on the battlefield.

Joel used a red glaze inspired by the scarlet cloaks the warriors of Lacedaemon wore to war. The color was meant to obscure the sight of blood, so that if an individual Spartan was wounded, his incapacity would be hidden from the enemy.

Today, most of us will never drink from mud puddles or be called upon to forage under combat conditions for the necessities of life. But we all face harrowing battles in our own lives: pain, injustice, even death. This mug lets you drink your morning coffee inspired by the superior equipment, training, discipline, and fearlessness of the ancient Spartans.

All pottery is handmade by Joel Cherrico and the Cherrico Pottery Team. All of our Stoneware and porcelain pottery is 100% food and non-toxic. Mugs are meant to be used and enjoyed daily. Mugs are dishwasher safe, but we recommend hand washing all pottery. Most mugs are microwave safe but some experimental colors might have metal colors that cause the pottery to be non-microwaveable. 

Questions? Contact our Customer Service team anytime: contact@cherricopottery.com