Greek and Etruscan Pottery

An elongated, narrow-necked flask, used as a perfume or unguent container. The Greek alabastron has no handles but often lugs (ear-shaped projections), sometimes pierced with string holes. There are three types of classical alabastron: a basic Corinthian bulbous shape about 8 to 10 cm high that appeared from the mid-7th century BCE and was common in Greece; a long, pointed version found in eastern Greek, Etruscan, and Italo-Corinthian pottery; and an Attic type, from 10 to 20 cm high, with a rounded base and occasionally two small lugs, common from the late 6th to the early 4th century BCE. All three types are found in pottery form. The last two types are justifiably named alabastron, as they were made of alabaster.

Examples of alabastrons in opaque glass exist from 1000 BCE in Egypt, 600 BCE in Assyria, and the 2nd century BCE in Syria and Palestine. The earliest Egyptian alabastron is columnar, with a palm capital and a small plinth as a stand, and is circled with wavy bands of glass thread. Later examples, in dark-blue glass or milk glass, have a funnel-shaped opening or a broad disk-lipped neck; decoration consists of scallops, festoons, or, more commonly, ringed patterns, among which combed zigzags are especially effective. (1)

Mouth of alabastron Photograph by Brooke Hammerle, courtesy of the Museum of Art, RISD, Providence, RI, 1990 Copyright notice

Alabastron Photograph by Brooke Hammerle, courtesy of the Museum of Art, RISD, Providence, RI, 1990 . Copyright notice

Alabastron: This is a small vase for perfume or oil. It had a broad flat mouth, a narrow neck, and a thinly made body. A dipstick was used to get the contents out. (2)

Alabastron (perfume container)Archaic Period (Middle Corinthian), about 600–575 B.C.Greece, (Corinth) Ceramic, Height: 22 cm (8 11/16 in.) Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Description: Middle Corinthian alabastron. Lion, with large wing, walking to right. Filling ornaments in the form of rosettes and a large triangle beneath the wing. Concentric rings on bottom. Colors red, black, and brown on buff clay.

Alabastron with a sphinx and a goose

Greek. Middle to Late Corinthian Period, 580 to 550 B.C.

Ceramic, Black Figure, Height: 9.5 cm (3 3/4 in.)

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston,

Place of Manufacture: Corinth

Description: Siren with polos, a goose, and rosettes as filling ornaments.

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Amphora

The amphora is one of the most common vessels in Etruscan pottery, and was common throughout the Mediterreanean. It is a two-handled pot with a neck narrower than the body. There are two types of amphora: the neck amphora, in which the neck meets the body at a sharp angle; and the one-piece amphora, in which the neck and body form a continuous curve. The first is common from the Geometric period (c. 900 BCE) to the decline of Greek pottery; the second appeared in the 7th century BCE.

Shipping amphorae typically had no flat base but continued down to a point. These were stored in racks with specially designed holes aboard vessels or in Emporiae. They have been referred to as the 200 litre drum of Antiquity.The height of amphorae varies from large Geometric vases of 1.5 metres to examples of 30 cm or even smaller (the smallest are called amphoriskoi). The average normal height is about 45 centimetres. Amphorae, which survive in great numbers, were used as storage and transport vessels for olives, cereal, oil, and wine (the wine amphora was a standard Attic measure of about 39 litres and, in outsize form, for funerals and as grave markers. Wide-mouthed, painted amphorae were used as decanters and were given as prizes. (1)

Amphora Photograph by Maria Daniels, courtesy of Harvard University Art Museums, 1990 Copyright notice

Amphora Photograph by Brooke Hammerle, courtesy of the Museum of Art, RISD, Providence, RI, 1990 Copyright notice

Greek Black Glaze Nolan Amphora, Ca. 4th Century BC. Magna Graecia, probably Campania. Size: 17-5/8"H.

Amphora

Amphora from "Tarquin's ship", Giglio Isle, Italy

Nolan Amphora. (Dennis, Etruria) Image from A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities (1890) (eds. William Smith, LLD, William Wayte, G. E. Marindin) Copyright notice

Amphora (jar) Cycladic neck-handled amphora

Orientalizing to Archaic Period, 600–575 B.C.

Greece, Attica, (Athens)

Ceramic, 22 cm (8 11/16 in.)

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius C. Vermeule III 61.388

Description: Interior of neck, lip and handles all painted black. Below lip a band of black zig-zags; red band. On neck, double zig-zags alternate with dotted circles (in black) in "reverse SOS" design; red band. On body, variety of thick and thin bands, in red, black and reserve.

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Aryballos

A small, narrow-necked, spherical or globular vase. Commonly used as a scent or oil bottle, particularly by athletes at the baths, the aryballos derives from the globular wine pourer or oinochoe of the Geometric style (9th century BCE), evolving its distinctive shape in the early Proto-Corinthian style (8th century BCE). From the many aryballoi that have been found dating from the late 8th and 7th centuries BCE, an evolution can be traced from a round to an ovoid shape, then to a pointed, top-heavy version, and finally to a round shape; the round, Corinthian type has a broad, disklike mouth, often nearly matching the circumference of the flask, and one small handle. Later aryballoi have a bell-shaped mouth, two handles with slight projections at the bases, and a flat bottom. (1)

Aryballos

Ariballoi This type of pot was used by athletesto 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. (2)

Aryballos Photograph courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston . Copyright notice

Late Corinthian Aryballos

Greek. Archaic, Late Corinthian, 575–550 B.C.

Ceramic, 7.1 cm (2 13/16 in.)

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: Gift of Edward Robinson 92.2605

Description: Quatrefoil design of lotus-buds etc. in black and purple.

Askos

A small vessel for pouring oil with a convex body and a basket handle which reaches to the oblique spout.

Shape: The shape is an ideal one for pouring oil, for the angle of the body and spout causes the liquid to come out in a thin stream when lightly tilted.

History: The askos is a new shape in Attic red-figure and black-painted wares. It appears from about 480 down to the fourth century B.C.

Term: Its shape resembles that of a wineskin with its opening closed, whence the name, for the Greek word for wineskin was askos. There is no evidence that the word askos was used by the Greeks to describe this vessel. (4)

Paestan askos: Overview of the vase, side A, showing a draped, dancing woman, a dancing phlyax, and a satyr with torch and tambourine

THREE DAUNIAN VESSELS:Duck Askos, Funnel Krater, Duck Askos.Subgecmetric II, 8th-7th century B.C.TerracottaHts. 4 3/4 in., 8 3/5 in., 8 3/5 in.

DAUNIAN DOUBLE-SPOUTED ASKOS. 4th century B.C. Terracotta, Ht. 9 3/4

Askos: Photograph by Bruce White. Unknown. Greek, Apulia, South Italy, 360- 350 B.C. Terracotta 96.AE.114. The J. Paul Getty Trust

Daunian Pottery Askos, Ca. 5th Century BC. Ronded vessel with concentric circles applied in umber and brown oxides; ring handle and with circular spout. 4-1/2"

Hydria

A three-handled water jar used for drawing water, as cinerary urns and as ballot boxes.

Shape: It has a vertical handle at the back for dipping, carrying , or pouring, and two horizontal handles set on the sides for lifting. In size, hydriai correspond to amphorae. There are two distinct types of hydria: one where the neck is set off from the body, called a neck hydria; and the other where the neck and body form a continuous curve.

History: The tall slim version, called a loutrophoros-hydria, a ritual vessel, had a long and early history in Athens, but the more typical variety- the one with the globular body and cylindrical neck- appears to have been borrowed from Corinth in the early sixth century B.C. In Attica a modified version develops in the middle sixth century B.C.; the shoulder becomes progressively flatter, with the neck set off from the body, and this becomes the standard black-figure type. This style lasts into the second quarter of the fifth century B.C.

Hydria

A related shape, the kalpis, is also commonly used to carry water. Vessels of this shape often appear in vase-painting, usually depicting women drawing water at a fountain-house (but this does not preclude their being used for other purposes). In a representation on the Francois vase (Troilos being pursued by Achilles) a jar of this shape, with its neck set off from the body, is inscribed "hydria". They were also used as cinerary urns, as attested by the cemetery at Hadra, near Alexandria, where many were found containing the ashes of the dead. They were also used as ballot boxes, into which names were placed.

Term: The name hydria is satisfactorily attested for this type of vessel, as is the name kalpis.(4)

Hydria: Photograph by Maria Daniels, courtesy of Harvard University Art Museums, 1990

. Copyright notice

Hydria: Modern replica

ATTIC BLACK-FIGURE HYDRIA ca. 500 BC FRONT

ATTIC BLACK-FIGURE HYDRIA ca. 500 BC BACK

Kantharos

A footed bowl with two high-curving vertical handles set on each side.

Shape: The handles usually curve above the level of the lip and sometimes with an inward curl towards the lip. The lip and the bowl form a continuous curve, and the bowl is usually set off from the tall-stemmed foot. Of the four major types, type A is has been illustrated (see Illustration).

History: The shape is not common in Athenian black-figure, and is more often seen held by Dionysos in representations on vases. There are several variations within this type of cup. The immediate origin of the kantharos is not clear, but it has a long and early history in Boeotia. In its early development it is closely related to the cup. The Protogeometric kantharos has low handles and a conical foot. During the Geometric period this foot is rejected in favor of a tall stem. At this time the handles rise above the lip. The characteristic shape first appears in Etruscan bucchero in the late seventh or early sixth century B.C. It is then adopted by Attic and Boeotian potters and undergoes refinements in their hands. Its shape continues to be popular down to the period of the later Apulian wares, as well as the black-painted wares of the fourth and third century.

Term: The word kantharos means "dung beetle"; it also was the name used to describe a cup of this shape in ancient times: Athenaios, 11.473d lists the kantharos among the drinking cups and describes it as resting on "a thin-stemmed, broad-based foot." (4)

Kantharos: Photograph by Maria Daniels, courtesy of Harvard University Art Museums, 1990 Copyright notice

Kantharos

Etruscan Bucchero Ware Kantharos, Ca. 7th Century BC. Open burnished black-ware vessel on rounded stem base with high twin strap handles at either side of rim and notched decorative band around waist. 5¼in. (13.5cm.)

Krater

A vessel for mixing wine. The krater has a wide mouth and a deep, broad body, resting on a foot.

The Greeks rarely drank their wine "neat," and there are numerous representations on vases showing kraters serving as wine bowls.

Term: "krater" means "mixing bowl" in Greek. Although there are several forms of kraters, their ancient names have not been identified. The restriction of the term to footed vessels is a modern convention.(4)

Krater

APULIAN GNATHIA-WARE BELL KRATER. Circa 330-320 B.C. Terracotta ,

Ht. 10 7/16 in.

Bell Krater

Kyathos

The kyathos is a dipper with a single long, upward-curving handle set on the side of the vessel, and having a low flat foot-disc.

History: The average height is about 5 inches. The earliest known examples of this vessel suggest that the shape was invented by the potter Nikosthenes, by about 530 B.C. This shape, and the similar kantharos, seem to have been inspired by related Etruscan bucchero shapes. Perhaps derived from bronze forms, as the high handle is not well adapted for ceramic. The terra cotta vessels date from the late sixth century B.C. to the first half of the fifth century, but far rarer in the later period than in the black-figure period. (4)

Kyathos

ETRUSCAN BUCCHERO STANDING KYATHOS. Central Italy. 7th-6th Century B.C. H. 14 in. (35.5 cm.)

ETRUSCAN BUCCHERO KYATHOS. Ca. 650-600 B.C. H. 5 in. (12.7 cm.)

Kyatos: painting

Kylix

A two-handled drinking cup with a stemmed foot.

History: The kylix was especially popular from the end of the sixth century down to the fourth century B.C., when the kantharos overtakes it as the favoured vessel. Perhaps the type was derived from a rather heavier Protogeometric shape, with a deeper bowl and a high conical foot. The shape persists through the seventh century B.C. One of the innovations during the late Proto Attic is a slightly taller stem. The kylix takes its standard shape during the second quarter of the sixth century B.C. There are several types of Kylix: 1) lip and foot set off from the bowl, 2) lip forms a continuous curve with the bowl and the foot offset, 3) lip, bowl, and stem form a continuous curve. (Type B illustrated.)

Term: Of the many Greek words for cups, four are now most commonly used: skyphos, kotyle, kylix, and kantharos. There is no ancient authority for limiting these names to a particular shape of cup, but the word "kylix" appears as an inscription on a vessel of a particular shape, and literary evidence mentions the kylix as a drinking cup; on this basis, the name kylix has been applied to the shape. (4)

South Italian Black-Glazed Stemless Kylix, Ca. 4th Century BC. Shallow vessel with rich black glaze, stamped tondo and twin horizontal handles. Disc foot, 10-5/8 in. diam handle to handle. 2in H.

FALISCAN RED-FIGURE KYLIX Etruria. Ca. 380-360 BC

D. 9 3/4” (24.8 cm.); h. 3 5/8 in. (9 cm.)

Lekythos

A type of oil flask used at baths and gymnasiums and for funerary offerings. The flask has a long, cylindrical body gracefully tapered to the base, and a narrow neck with a loop-shaped handle. Its decoration was often superior to the sentimentality of most late Attic pottery.(1)

Lekythos

Attic Black-Figure Lekythos, Ca. 6th Century BC. (520 to 500 BC). A nicely painted and incised scene consisting of a pantheon of Deities represented, Hermes, Dionysus, Poseidon, etc. Ray band pattern on shoulder. 7 in H.

Attic White Ground Funerary Lekythos, Ca. 6th Century BC. Tall slender and elegant cylindrical vessel with funnel mouth, loop handle and disc foot. Decorated on shoulder with band of palmette leaves in black-figure technique. Placed in tombs, these were filled with scented oils for the afterlife. Size: 12-3/4"H.

Oinochoe

A vase with a short globular body and continuous curve from mouth to foot, a high neck with a slightly flaring lip and trefoil mouth, a vertical looped handle which rises above the lip, and a low foot.

Shape: The oinochoe is one of the most common Greek shapes as well as having a wide variety of types. The type illustrated here is Beazley's shape 3, one of the ten shapes he identifies. Among the different types, many variations occur: the mouth can be round or trefoil, the body can be globular or slender, the neck and shoulder can be offset from the body or there can be a continuous curve from mouth to foot, the handle can be high or low. The small vase known as a 'mug,' with one handle and no foot, is identified by Beazley as a variant of the oinochoe. [ARV (2), p. l]

History: Through literary sources and artistic representations, it is known that the oinochoe was used for ladling and pouring wine, as well as serving as a grave offering. G.M.A. Richter and M. Milne 1935 19, notes that the shape seen here is also known as a 'chous' and was used for drinking wine in competition at the Attic festival of the Choes, as well as small versions of the vase serving as gifts for the children attending the festival.

Term: The term is Greek and is derived from the words for wine (oinos) and to pour (cheo). (4)

Oinochoe Photograph by Maria Daniels, courtesy of Harvard University Art Museums, 1990 Copyright notice.

Terracotta Oinochoe:. Ionia, about 625 B.C. H: 14 in.; Diameter [body]: 10 7/16 in.(81.AE.83 Paul Getty Museum)

ETRUSCAN BUCCHERO LARGE OINOCHOE

Early 6th Century B.C. H. 22 3/4 in. (57.8 cm.)

Etruscan Cut Back Spout Oinochoe, Ca. 350 BC. 7-1/2 in H.

Oinochoe

Oinochoe Photograph by Brooke Hammerle, courtesy of the Museum of Art, RISD, Providence, RI, 1990 Copyright notice.

Oinochoe Photograph by Maria Daniels, courtesy of the Museum of Art, RISD, Providence, RI, 1990 Copyright notice.

Phiale

Shallow bowl with a central boss. It was used for drinking and pouring libations. In the vase-painting, phiale usually attends in the scene of libations and some literary evidences prove this shape is called "Phiale". Since there is a few example with the black- or red-figure and the presence of gold and silver phialai is known from the inscriptions about the treasures of Parthenon, clay phialai were probably intended for substitutions of these. Cf. Boston 97.371 (Perseus Project)..

Figured scene is seldom arranged and some simple ornaments are applied on inside.

Dimensions: diam. about 20-30cm (6)

Corinthian phiale; profile Photograph by Brooke Hammerle, courtesy of the Museum of Art, RISD, Providence, RI Copyright notice.

Phiale (Latin Patera), from Hadrian's Villa. Image from A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities (1890) (eds. William Smith, LLD, William Wayte, C E Marindini)

Copyright notice

Corinthian phiale; interior. Photograph by Brooke Hammerle, courtesy of the Museum of Art, RISD, Providence, RI Copyright notice

Skyphos

A deep, stemless drinking cup with two handles and a low foot, if any.

Shape: The Corinthian type is characterized by its inward curve of the lip. In the Attic types A and B, the lip is slightly concave and the foot is heavier (Type A illustrated here). During the fourth century both types grow narrower and more concave in the lower part of the body.

History: There are early Geometric cups similar to this vessel, though the Corinthians set the conventions, which the Attic potters borrowed and modified. Both the Corinthian and the Attic skyphos enjoyed long popularity, from the early black figure down to the Hellenistic period.

Term: Literary evidence establishes that skyphos was the name for this shape. This shape is also known as a kotyle, but it is clear that the term kotyle was used in general to identify a cup.(4)

Skyphos Photograph by Maria Daniels, courtesy of Harvard University Art Museums, 1990 Copyright notice

Skyphos

ITALO-GEOMETRIC POTTERY SKYPHOS 8th Century B.C.

H. 3 1/2”(8.9 cm.); D. 4”(10.2 cm.)

Skyphos. Height 7 cm. Stolen from the museum of Ancient Corinth

Large and Impressive Corinthian Pottery Skyphos, Ca. 6th Century BC. 12 in. (31cm.) diam., 6in. (15cm.) high

Stamnos

A high-shouldered, wide mouthed pot with a spreading lip on a short neck. Handles are set horizontally on the shoulder.

History: That vessels of this shape were used for the purpose of both holding (storing) and serving wine is attested to in literature and on vase painting. The shape appears mainly in red-figure, though there are black-figure examples, establishing itself in Attic pottery during the last quarter of the sixth century throughout the fifth century B.C. and in Etruscan pottery throughout the fourth century B.C. The shape grows taller and thinner with time. It ranges from twelve to fifteen inches in height.

Term: The evidence for applying the Greek name "stamnos" to vessels of this shape is insufficient. Its use suggests that the name stamnos to be another name for a large amphora.(4)

Stamnos

Pottery Cups, Juglets and miscellaneous vessels

Apulian Red-Figure Prochous, Magna Graecia, Ca. 350 B.C. Bulbous pouring vessel on low pedestal foot with bulbous body, slender neck with pouring channel, relief faces flanking and a graceful, strap handle. Black glazed with red-figure painted nude Eros, seated and holding a phiale, filler and palmettes in the field and added yellow and white pigment. Size: 7-7/8"H. Collection Dr. Angelo R. Bergamo, Italy

Pair of Hellenistic Pottery Juglets, Greek, Ca. 3rd Century BC. Buff clay wheel turned deep vessels with high loop handles. 2-1/4 & 2-1/2 in H. Probably perfume unguents. (3)

ETRUSCAN IMPASTO WARE COVERED VESSEL

7th-6th Century BC H. 9 in. (23 cm.)

DAUNIAN CUP. 6th century B.C. Terracotta., Ht.. 6 1/2 in.

THREE DAUNIAN BICHROME VESSELS: Cup, Trefoil, Oinoichoe, Jug.

7th-6th century B.C. Terracotta , Hts. 6 2/5 in., 6 9/10 in.

FOUR DAUNIAN VESSELS: ”Turtle” Canteen Askos, Lebes, Strainer, Cup

5th-4th century B.C. Terracotta Hts. 5 1/5 in., 7 in., 5 1/5 in., 4 ½ in.

THREE VILLANOVAN IMPASTO-WARE VESSELS

Bucchero Ware

The famous Bucchero earthenware which is most often associated with the Etruscans, became common between about the 7th and early 5th century BCE. Characteristically, the ware is black, sometimes gray, and often shiny from polishing. The colour was achieved by firing in an atmosphere charged with carbon monoxide instead of oxygen. This is known as a reducing firing, and it converts the red of the clay, due to the presence of iron oxide, to the typical bucchero colours.

The finest products, the light, thin-walled bucchero sottile, appear to have been made in the 7th and early 6th centuries. In these wares technique is excellent, form tends to be refined and controlled, and decoration, usually incised or in relief, is generally subordinate to form.

Decoration is sometimes limited to continuous bands of narrative figure reliefs, like those on painted Greek vessels. These were produced by rolling a cylinder with a recessed design over the soft clay. Eventually the Greek black pigment came to be used. Stylized human and animal figures were painted on the surface of bucchero in black, red, and white; and the black-figure style was expertly copied. Technique and workmanship declined from about the mid-6th century onward, when bucchero sottile was replaced by bucchero pasante, a heavy, thick-walled ware, overly complex in form and ostentatiously decorated with reliefs. (1)

Bibliography and Links

1) Etruscan Pottery http://www.mysteriousetruscans.com/art/pottery.html

2) Greek Civilization: pottery http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/

3) Greece, Magna Graecia, & Etruria. http://www.howardnowes.com/Gr.html

4) The Perseus Project, http://www.perseus.tufts.edu , May 2004

5) Ancient Greek Pottery Ancient Greek Pottery.htm.#304B

6) Index of Shapes http://www2.ocn.ne.jp/~greekart/vase/s_list.html

7) Etruscan Vase Catalogue http://www.royalathena.com/pages/etruscatpages/etrusvscat.htm

8) The Karnoff Collection www.a-r-t.com/karnoff/kcim#311D

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