The patera is an all-purpose mess pan, for cooking, eating, and probably drinking.
Some examples do have handles added on in various ways, and some are hammered.
The handle could be attached by 2 riveted loops or by means of a heavy wire with loops in it around the rim of the pot. Several iron flasks with bronze fittings have been found. At least one of which has a locking cap, while another has enamel decoration, so it is not certain that these were general-issue items. A number of ceramic flasks of similiar shape and size have been found, which may have been canteens though they generally seem to be rather thin and fragile for that. Some are cylindrical like the iron flasks, others are lens-shaped in section.