The term “Greek vase” is most commonly used to refer to pottery made in Greece between the 10th and 1st centuries BCE. Of course, it could technically refer to any vase made in Greece, whether modern or ancient. Because of the large number of extant pottery pieces that can be used for research and study, Greek pottery is a subject of great interest for many archaeologists who study Classical Greece. Pottery is an archaeologist’s favorite artifact because it lasts so long and often provides crucial cultural clues long after other artifacts have rotted away.
Greek vase styles have evolved dramatically over time, paralleling the evolution of Greek culture, and they are usually divided into several chronological groups. The protogeometric period, which includes vases from the 9th to 10th centuries BCE, is the first. Vases from this time have very simple, basic designs, but they already have the graceful and elegant forms associated with vases made during the height of Greek culture in the fourth and fifth centuries.
The geometric period began around the eighth century BCE, when the Greeks began developing vases influenced by surrounding cultures. Orientalizing vases appeared in the 7th century as the Greeks exchanged ideas with a growing circle of cultures. These vases evolved from antiquity’s geometric designs, depicting things like foliage and figures.
The Greek vase underwent a cultural explosion in the sixth century, as the Greeks refined their potting and glazing techniques. This is when the famous black figure vases, as well as the striking red figure vases that can be found in many museum collections, were created. In the sixth century, white ground vases with a distinct white background appeared. These vases depicted a wide range of themes and motifs in incredible detail, from athletic competitions to mythological stories.
A Greek vase can be made in a variety of shapes. The amphora, a two-handled, large vase, is probably the most famous, but the Greeks created at least 100 different types of vase, including the kylix, a shallow ceramic drinking cup, and the pyxis, a cosmetics box. Psykters, broad-bottomed, narrow-necked vases, were used to cool wine, and hydrias, large vases with four or more handles for easy carrying, were used to hold water.
At least one Greek vase can be found in any museum with a collection of classical artifacts today. The Greeks used their vases for practical, ceremonial, and decorative purposes, and archaeologists are grateful that the rich culture of ancient Greece has been preserved for thousands of years on the sides of their vases. A close examination of a Greek vase can reveal figures that appear to be walking down the street today, as well as detailed depictions of food, inscriptions describing the scene on the vase, and a fascinating look at the jewelry, ornaments, and clothing worn by the Ancient Greeks and their contemporaries.