🏺Intro to Greek Archaeology Unit 9 – Greek Pottery: Art and Archaeology

Historical Context and Timeline

• Ancient Greek pottery production spanned from the Bronze Age to the Hellenistic period (3000 BCE - 31 BCE)
• Early Neolithic pottery (6500-5800 BCE) consisted of simple, handmade vessels with limited decoration
• Bronze Age (3000-1100 BCE) saw the emergence of distinct regional styles (Minoan, Mycenaean)
• Protogeometric period (1050-900 BCE) marked the beginning of the Iron Age and featured geometric designs
• Geometric period (900-700 BCE) characterized by intricate geometric patterns and stylized human and animal figures
• Orientalizing period (700-600 BCE) introduced Eastern influences and mythological scenes
• Archaic period (600-480 BCE) witnessed the development of black-figure and red-figure techniques
• Classical period (480-323 BCE) marked the height of Greek pottery production with refined techniques and naturalistic designs
• Hellenistic period (323-31 BCE) saw a decline in pottery production and a shift towards more elaborate and ornate styles

Key Pottery Styles and Periods

• Minoan pottery (2700-1450 BCE) known for vibrant colors, marine motifs, and naturalistic designs
  • Kamares ware featured polychrome decoration on dark background
  • Marine Style depicted sea creatures and plants
• Mycenaean pottery (1600-1100 BCE) characterized by stylized motifs and use of lustrous paint
  • Pictorial Style featured narrative scenes and human figures
• Geometric pottery (900-700 BCE) distinguished by precise geometric patterns and stylized figures
  • Dipylon Style named after the Dipylon Gate cemetery in Athens
• Orientalizing pottery (700-600 BCE) incorporated Eastern motifs (sphinxes, lions, lotuses)
• Black-figure pottery (620-480 BCE) utilized incised lines and added white and red details on black silhouette figures
• Red-figure pottery (530-320 BCE) reversed the color scheme, with red figures against a black background
  • Allowed for greater detail and naturalism in depictions
• White-ground pottery (500-400 BCE) featured outline drawings on a white background, often used for funerary lekythoi

Manufacturing Techniques

• Clay sourced from local deposits, refined, and mixed with water to create malleable material
• Pottery shaped using various methods depending on the period and desired form
  • Handbuilding techniques included coiling, pinching, and slab construction
  • Potter's wheel introduced in Bronze Age allowed for more symmetrical and uniform shapes
• Vessels dried in stages to prevent cracking and warping
• Decoration applied using slip (liquid clay) or incised lines
  • Black-figure technique involved adding liquid clay slip to create silhouette figures, then incising details
  • Red-figure technique involved outlining figures with slip, then filling background with black glaze
• Firing process involved heating pottery in kilns at high temperatures (900-1000°C)
  • Iron oxide in clay produced red color, while reduction firing created black color
• Multiple firings sometimes necessary for complex designs or added colors

Decorative Motifs and Iconography

• Geometric designs (meanders, zigzags, chevrons) common in early periods
• Floral and vegetal motifs (palmettes, lotuses, vines) popular throughout
• Human figures depicted in various styles, from abstract to naturalistic
  • Mythological scenes (Trojan War, Labors of Hercules) frequently portrayed
  • Everyday life scenes (athletics, symposia, weddings) provide insight into ancient Greek society
• Animal figures (horses, lions, birds) often used symbolically or decoratively
• Divine figures (gods, goddesses, heroes) represented with attributes and symbols
• Funerary scenes (prothesis, ekphora) depicted on vessels used in burial rituals
• Inscriptions used to identify figures, scenes, or makers

Function and Use in Ancient Greek Society

• Pottery served various purposes in daily life, religious rituals, and funerary practices
• Storage vessels (amphorae, pithoi) used for holding wine, oil, grains, and other commodities
  • Amphorae often stamped with seals for identification and quality control
• Drinking vessels (kylikes, skyphoi, kantharoi) used in symposia and other social gatherings
• Pouring vessels (oinochoai, hydriai) used for serving wine and water
• Mixing vessels (kraters) used for diluting wine with water before serving
• Perfume and oil containers (aryballoi, alabastra) used for personal grooming and funerary offerings
• Funerary vessels (lekythoi, plaques) used for holding oils and offerings in burial rituals
• Votive offerings and prizes in athletic competitions and religious festivals

Archaeological Excavation Methods

• Stratigraphic excavation involves careful removal and documentation of soil layers
  • Allows for relative dating based on the principle of superposition
• Contextual analysis considers the relationship between artifacts and their surrounding environment
• Pottery sherds used as diagnostic tools for dating and identifying sites
  • Rim, base, and handle fragments provide information about vessel shape and function
• Distribution patterns of pottery types and styles help trace trade networks and cultural interactions
• Residue analysis can reveal contents and use of vessels
• Experimental archaeology replicates ancient techniques to better understand production processes

Conservation and Analysis Techniques

• Cleaning involves removal of dirt, salts, and other accretions using mechanical or chemical methods
  • Care taken to preserve surface treatments and decorations
• Desalination removes soluble salts that can cause deterioration
• Consolidation strengthens fragile or friable surfaces using adhesives or consolidants
• Reassembly of fragments done using reversible adhesives and documented thoroughly
• X-radiography reveals internal structure and manufacturing techniques
• Petrographic analysis examines clay composition and inclusions to determine provenance
• Neutron activation analysis provides elemental composition data for sourcing raw materials
• 3D scanning and imaging techniques allow for non-invasive documentation and analysis

Cultural Significance and Legacy

• Greek pottery provides invaluable insights into ancient Greek society, religion, and daily life
• Mythological scenes on pottery offer glimpses into oral traditions and popular narratives
• Depictions of everyday activities shed light on social norms, gender roles, and cultural practices
• Pottery as a medium for artistic expression and innovation, pushing boundaries of form and decoration
• Influence on subsequent ceramic traditions in the Mediterranean and beyond
• Inspiration for neoclassical art and design in the 18th and 19th centuries
• Continued fascination and appreciation in modern times as works of art and historical artifacts
• Role in shaping public perceptions and understanding of ancient Greek culture