The History Of Ancient Greece Told In The Clay Of The Greek Vase
Thanks to its durable materials, Greek Pottery has been important in the worlds comprehension of the ancient Greek society. Mostly found in the Etruscan Tombs, Greek Vases and Greek Pottery are canvases that paint a portrait of the world of ancient Greece. While much of ancient Greek art is forever lost, Greek pottery offers a glimpse into both the mythology and every day life of ancient Greece.
Beginning with the Minoan civilization that arose on the island of Crete, the Minoans made remarkable contributions to Greek way of life; especially, in the crafstmanship of pottery and vases. The Minoan potters designed pottery for gathering food and storing liquids. Functional necessity became a vehicle for articistic expression, with the potter often inspired by nature to influence the designs that beautified the piece creating art from what was once only a tool.
As time passed, Minoans created vases in forms that were used for specific purposes. For example, the Amphora vase is a swollen vase with a large mouth and two opposing handles. It was used to carry and store liquids such as oil or wine. Painted with grass and flowers, and marine scenes, the Minoans created the standard for future designs.
During the Protogeometrical Period, Greek vases were adorned with simple designs that consisted mainly of patterns of of circles. The emphasis on geometry followed with new concepts, building upon the latter with meanders, spiraled patterns and triangles. In the middle of the eleventh Century, the first images of human figures were seen adorning the Greek vase, and by the end of the period, mythological figures told their stories while decorating the pieces.
The Orientalizing Period came after trade-links with Syria and the Aegan World. The popularity of human depictions slowed during this period, and the artisan used the Greek vases for depicting lions, griffins and sphinx with lotuses as accents.
Through the Corinthian invention, the Greek black-figure technique, artists used iron-enriched clay that turned reddish-orange after firing. They then sketched the design as an outline, and filled it in with clay. The Greek vases would be kiln fired at a temperature of around 800 degrees Celsius. After oxidation, the pottery would turn a reddish-orange color. Next, the temperature was raised another 150 degrees, and the piece would turn black. Finally, the kiln vents were opened to allow the oxygen to flow, and the pottery would turn back to the reddish-orange color, but the paint layer remained black.
The Corinthian used these vases to depict animal friezes. It was the Athenian painters who introduced a narrative method, depicting battle scenes, mythology and legends.
Following the black-figure method, the red-figure method was introduced in Athens. At its core, the process is exactly the opposite of the black-figure method. Scenes were applied to the Greek vases, but to unfired pieces after they were dried. The Athenians drew outlines on the pottery or vase with a blunt scrapper. It was removed during the kiln process, but after the contours remained and were filled with a glossy clay mixture.
The Greek methods for creating pottery resulted in Greek vases that not only inspire potters and artists, but left the world with a path to the past.
Looking for a Greek Vase to decorate your home? Check out the these distinct Greek Vases from Your Museum Store.
Rob Mabry is a former Army journalist, screenwriter and technologist who writes about art, history, technology and whatever else amuses him.
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