Greek Pottery Research Paper

The knowledge about Ancient Greece is in dedication to its pottery. Due to its relative durability over the years, whether intact or in pieces, the history of Greece survived. Greek pottery thrived from 1000 BCE to 400 BCE and was meant for everyday use. Potters produced a variety of styles of all shapes and sizes with abstract, historical, and mythological designs showcasing everyday Greek life. Pottery back then was made similar to nowadays; pottery was made by shaping clay on a wheel, decorating the pot, and then heating the clay in a kiln. Despite the aesthetic achievements of Greek ceramics it was never respected as fine art. Greek pottery has evolved over the centuries creating a new decorative style for each period, these styles are Protogeometric, Geometric, Orientalizing, black-figure, red-figure, and white ground.
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Black-figure pottery was a popular style from 620-480 BCE. Athens soon became the main spot for Greek pottery. The black-figure style had “black figures painted on a light inset background panel, while the surrounding vase surface is a deep, lustrous black” (“Greek Pottery”). The Black-figure style was made by applying a clay slip to the outside of the vessel. The vessel was then fired in an oxidation kiln which turns the slip red. With no oxygen the clay turns black. Next the potters trim and cut lines into the slip or add white and purple mixtures of clay and pigment to depict the details. During this period, painters and the potters started signing their work. Famous black-figure potters/painters were Sophilos, Exekias, the Amasis Painter, Kleitias, Andokides, Ergotimos, Lydos, Euthymides, and Nearchos. Kleitias is known for painting over two hundred figures in six friezes in the François Vase. Exekias an Attic painter is known for being master of technique. The Amasis Painter signed his name on twelve works all recognizably painted by the same