Greek Vases
GREEK POTTERY
Because the number of people in Greece was growing and the forests and farmland were getting smaller, people had to think of new ways to earn money to pay for imported food and lumber. They had a lot of clay to make pots out of, so artists began making pottery. Eventually, it became the best pottery in the world.
Greek pots and vases were made of red clay, The designs were etched on the sides of the pot with a tool and then painted black. Most scenery showed people doing something, like playing athletic games, working, or dancing. Much of what we know about ancient Greece comes from the detailed scenes on old pottery.
What did the Greeks use pottery for besides selling it? They gave pretty pots filled with sacred olive oil as prizes in athletic competitions. They stored wine, honey, water, and oil in pots. Figs and salted meat were also stored in big pots. Greeks served food and ate meals using pottery. Pottery placed in the graves of the dead stored supplies for the next life- food, tools, and linens. Some pots were so huge people hid in them during the wars!
(Excerpt from Classical Kids An Activity Guide to Life in Ancient Greece and Rome, by Laurie Carlson)
Click on the links below to view Greek Pottery.
http://www.dl.ket.org/humanities/connections/class/greecerome/vases.htm
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/evdy/hd_evdy.htm
http://mkatz.web.wesleyan.edu/vases/vase_shapes.html
