| Withstanding the test of time, Greek Pottery has been | | | | much of the pottery of the era. |
| a crucial element in the world's comprehension of the | | | | The Orientalizing Period came after trade-links with |
| ancient Greek culture. Mostly found in the Etruscan | | | | Syria and the Aegan World. The popularity of human |
| Tombs, Greek Vases and Greek Pottery are | | | | depictions slowed during this time, and the artisan used |
| canvases that paint a portrait of the world of ancient | | | | the Greek vases for depicting lions, griffins and sphinx |
| Greece. While much of ancient Greek art is forever | | | | with lotuses as accents. |
| lost, Greek pottery offers a glimpse into both the | | | | Through the Corinthian invention known as the |
| every day life and the mythology of ancient Greece. | | | | black-figure process, artists used iron-rich clay that |
| Starting with the Minoan civilization that existed in | | | | turned reddish-orange after firing. They then |
| Crete, the culture made remarkable contributions to the | | | | sketched their design in outline, and filled it with clay. |
| Greek way of life; especially, in the artisanship of | | | | The Greek vases would be kiln fired at a temperature |
| pottery and vases. The Minoan potters designed | | | | of around 800 degress Celsius. The pottery would |
| pottery for food gathering and storage. A practical | | | | turn a reddish-orange color. Next, the temperature |
| need became one of artistic expression with the | | | | was raised to 950 degrees Celsius, and the vase |
| potter looking to nature to influence the designs that | | | | would turn black. Finally, the kiln vents were opened |
| transformed the pottery, creating art from what was | | | | to let in oxygen, and the pottery would turn back to |
| once only a tool. | | | | the reddish-orange color, but the paint layer remained |
| As time progressed, Minoan's created vases in forms | | | | black. |
| that were used for specialized purposes. For | | | | The Corinthian used these vases to depict animal |
| example, the Amphora vase is a swollen vase with a | | | | friezes. It was the Athenian painters who developed |
| wide mouth and two opposing handles. It was used | | | | a narrative method, depicting mythological scenes of |
| to transport and store oil, wine and other liquids. | | | | battle, gods and heroes. |
| Painted with grass and flowers, and marine scenes, | | | | Following the black-figure method, the red-figure |
| the Minoan's set precedent for future designs. | | | | method was introduced in Athens. At its core, the |
| During the Protogeometrical Period, Greek vases were | | | | process is exactly the opposite of the black-figure |
| decorated with simplistic designs that consisted mainly | | | | method. Scenes were applied to the Greek vases, |
| of circular patterns. The Geometric style followed | | | | but to unfired pieces after they were dried. The |
| with new motifs, building upon the latter with wavy lines | | | | Athenians drew outlines on the pottery or vase with a |
| and triangles. In the middle of the 11th Century, the | | | | blunt scrapper. It was erased during the kiln process, |
| first images of human figures were seen painted on | | | | but after the contours remained and were filled with a |
| the Greek vase, and by the end of the period, | | | | glossy clay slip. |
| mythological figures became prominent images on | | | | |