This web page discusses the shapes of Greek pottery and their
uses.
Table
of Contents
Quiz
Introduction to Ancient Greek
Pottery
Clay was a very important part of ancient Greek culture.
They did not have glass or plastic to make containers out of. Once clay is fired
it is almost indestructible and also fairly waterproof. These features made
clay a perfect material for making containers out of. It was used for big storage
containers, buckets, cups, perfume bottles, wine bottles, jewelry boxes, and
other types of container. All of these uses made the potters in ancient Greece
very busy. Their skills became so refined that they were just as important as
the clay itself, although potters were often poor or even slaves slaves.
Return to Contents
About Clay
Clay is rock that has been weathered and crumbled into dust.
When clay is found in its original place it is called 'primary' clay. In the
Mediterranean, where Greece is, primary clay is not usually found. Most of it
has been deposited by glaciers .Along the way the clay picks up impurities that
color it. This kind of clay is called 'secondary' clay. Different clays with
different impurities fire into different colors. For instance, iron in clay
makes it turn red when it is fired. knowing this makes it easy for archaeologists
and geologists to tell where different clays come from.
Return to Contents
Making Pottery in Ancient Greece
The first thing a potter needs is clay. When clay is first
dug out of the ground it is full of rocks
and shells and other impurities that should be removed. To do this the potter
mixes the clay with water and lets all the impurities sink to the bottom of
a large tub. This is called "levigation" or "elutriation".
The more times this is done the smoother the clay becomes after it is fired.
The clay is then kneaded by the potter and placed on a wheel.
A wheel is a machine that the potter uses to spin the clay and form it into
shapes. Once the clay is on the wheel the potter can shape it into anything
he desires (In ancient Greece only men where allowed to be potters. Women could
paint pots, but sculpting was out of the question). The pots were usually made
in sections such as the body and feet and spout. Even the body, if it was larger
than 30 centimeters, might be made in separate sections and glued together later
with a thin watery clay called slip.
After the pot is made the potter paints it with a very pure
black slip (made from the same clay) and a brush. To learn more about the different
styles of painting click here.
Greek pottery, unlike today's pottery, was only fired once,
but that firing had three stages. After the pottery is stacked inside the kiln
the potter can start the first stage. He heats the kiln up to around 800°C
or 1500°F with all the vents on the sides open to let air in. This turns
the pottery and the paint red all over. Once the kiln reaches 800°C or 1500°F
the vents are closed and the temperature is raised to 950°C or 1740°F
and then allowed to drop back to 900°C 1650°F. This turns the pottery
and the paint all black. The potter then starts the third and final phase by
opening the vents and allowing the kiln to cool all the way down. This last
phase leaves the slip black but turns the pottery back to red. This happens
because when the clay is given air it turns red, but when the black slip is
heated to 950°C or 1740°F it no longer allows air in. So the slipped
area stays black while the bare areas stay red.
Return to Contents
Shapes
Most Greek pottery was shaped for a particular function or
a number of functions. They were used around the house, or for ceremonies, or
even entertainment. This web page discusses the shapes of Greek pottery and
their uses. If you click on the pictures you will get a more detailed image
of the pots below.
The Greeks thought of their pottery as if they were almost
human. They used human terms to describe parts of the pots. For example - handles
were called ears and bases were called feet. Today we continue to use some of
the same terms like mouth, lip, neck, shoulder, and body. The mouth is the opening
at the top. The lip is the edge of the pot right around the mouth. Below the
lip is the neck. The shoulder is where the neck expands to the size of the body
and the body is the main part of the pot.
Return to Contents
Quick
Index
This is an index of all the styles of pots on this page.
Click on one to jump to it or just scroll down to browse them all. The red arrows
will bring you back to this index. Note: The pictures on this page are not photographs
of real Greek pottery, they are drawings to help describe the shapes of the
pots in ancient Greece.
Not all of these terms correspond to the ones the Greeks actually used, but
they are the words used by modern art historians.
Return to Contents
Pottery Styles and Descriptions
Alabastron
This is a small vase for perfume or oil. It has a broad flat mouth, a narrow
neck, and a thinly made body. A dipstick was used to get the contents out.
Amphora
Meaning to carry on both sides. These pots have two vertical handles, a
wide body, and a narrow neck. They come in all sizes and some have lids.
They were used to store and transport liquids, like water, wine, and solids,
like grain and olives.
Aryballos
This type of pot was used by athletes
to hold oil. Each athlete most likely had his personal Aryballos. It was
typically drawn suspended from the athlete's wrist. It is ball shaped and
has one or two handles. Some are shaped like a head, an animal, or a bird.
Hydria
The name Hydria is from the word hydor or 'water'. A hydria was
used to fetch water. They usually have oval bodies, two horizontal handles,
and one vertical handle.
Kraters
The name Krater is taken from a word meaning 'mix'. The pot was a large
bowl used for mixing water and wine. Wine was then ladled into cups from
the Krater. This type of pot was probably common at drinking
parties.
Kylix
A Kylix is a large wine cup with a shallow bowl. It has two horizontal
handles. Attaching the bowl to the foot is a high stem.
Lekythos
This is an oil bottle. The name Lekythos is used conventionally to describe
a pot that has a tall, squat shape, a foot, a single vertical handle, a
narrow neck, and a small mouth.
Oinochoe
This pot's name means 'wine-pourer'. This jug was used to pour wine. It
usually had one handle along its side.
Pyxis
These boxes are round like a cylinder. They usually have lids. They where
used to store toiletries such as cosmetics, powder, and jewelry.
Stamnos
This name is usually used to describe a pot that is used for storing and
mixing. It has two small horizontal handles on its side. The body is rather
round and it has a short neck.
More Sites to Look At
Pottery
and Time
Return to Contents
Quiz
1. What is the name of a pot that is used
for storing and mixing?
2. What is the process used to rid clay of
impurities?
3. Primary clay is found in it's original
location, what is clay called if it is moved?
4. Name the pot that is used for mixing wine.
(Hint Not #1)
5. Greeks thought of their pottery as if it
was almost _______.
6. What is a "wheel"?
Answers
Page design: Darin Glatt
November 1996
Edited by: Mari Bartlett November 1997