This paper is concerned with small portable altars associated with arulae or incense burners found in the Pontic area. The shape of the arulae of the western and north Euxine finds parallels in examples from deposits of the 3rd – early 2nd century B.C. in south Italy, mainland Greece and North Asia. Moreover, this particular iconographic type of arula, presenting various deities, is found together with such other clay products as mould-made relief bowls and appliqué vessels of Athens and other Greek centres. The evidence so far seems to allow for different possible interpretations of the decorative motifs revealed by them. This type of arulae has its own history of development for a limited period of time.