GEOMETRIC POTTERY
Greek Pottery
1050-700 BC
Geometric Pottery
• Enduring Understanding: Though the Greek civilization experienced a Dark Age from 1150-750 BC, archaeologically, they produced quite a lot of material. It is evident that the Greek civilization continued to advance even through this Dark Age.
GEOMETRIC POTTERY
• History:– Between 1200-1000 BC, most pottery was influenced
by the Dorians,a simple group of people from Europe who took over Greece. Their forms of pottery were simple, uneven shapes.
– By 1050 BC, a new style began to develop. It is called Geometric style. But the earliest stage of this new style of pottery was called Proto-Geometric (1000-900 BC).
GEOMETRIC POTTERY
• Different Types of Pottery: USAGE–KRATER: Large Mixing container for water with Wine
HYDRIA: large 3 handled jar for carrying water. One handle for pouring, 2 for lifting.
KYLIX: shallow, circular, 2 handled drinking cup on narrow stem
OINOCHOE: small pitcher used for pouring wine into cups
GEOMETRIC POTTERY
• Different Types of Pottery: USAGE
AMPHORA: tall, 2 handled storage jar for oil, wine, dry goods such as grain.
GEOMETRIC POTTERY
• DORIAN POTTERY:
Crude in design and uneven in terms of symmetry
Periods of Geometric Pottery
• Proto-Geometric Period: 1050-900 BC
• Early Geometric Period: 900-850 BC
• Middle Geometric Period: 850-800 BC
• Late Geometric Period: 800-700 BC
Periods of Geometric Pottery
Proto-Geometric 1050-900 BC
Early Geometric 900-850
Middle Geometric 850-800
Late Geometric 800-700More co
mplexity o
ver ti
me
GEOMETRIC POTTERY
• History– Proto-Geometric Period:
• 1050-900 BC• Made on a wheel• Decoration on pots: black bands, wavy lines,
simple geometric shapes.– Principally concentric circles and half circles.
• Careful attention was given to relationship between decoration and shape of pot.
• Signaled a reawakening of technical proficiency in Greece
GEOMETRIC POTTERY
• PROTO-GEOMETRIC STYLE: 1050-900 BC
Proto-Geometric belly-handled amphoraProto-Geometric neck handled amphora
Neck handle
Belly Handle
Half circles
Simple bands
Wavy Lines
GEOMETRIC POTTERY
• PROTO-GEOMETRIC STYLE:– Notice: dark colors painted on lighter body.
Proto-Geometric neck handled amphora Proto-Geometric belly handled amphora
GEOMETRIC POTTERY
• Geometric Period:– 900-700 BC– Increasing variety of design on pots– More coverage on pot. Lots of lines and
patterns.– Complexity of design increases: simple
figures of animals then later, humans appear.– Bodies and limbs represented by triangles.– Some patterns recall those on baskets,
clothes, a “weave pattern”.
GEOMETRIC POTTERY
• Geometric Period:– Black painted over a lighter body.– Depictions of humans and animals are
conceptual rather than representational.• Human figures reduced to geometric shapes.
– Upper bodies are triangles.– Rest of body in profile.
– Subject matter: battle scenes or funeral scenes.
GEOMETRIC POTTERY
• Geometric Period:– Large amphora with handles attached to neck were
also used for the cremated remains of men and boys.– Large jars, Kraters, with handles attached to belly
could also be used for the cremated remains of women and girls.
– Shapes: zig-zag, cross-hatched, triangles, the meander and swastika.
– General rule: size of figure denotes its importance.– Some Kraters served as grave monuments. Holes at
the bottom allowed the liquid poured in to seep into the ground for the dead.
GEOMETRIC POTTERY
• Early Geometric Style: 900-850 BC
Early Geometric Grave group 900-850 BC
Different shapes
Early Geometric
900-850 BC
GEOMETRIC POTTERY
• Middle Geometric Style: 850-800 BC
MG Belly handled Amphora (850-800 BC MG Horse handled Pyxis
Notice the growth and variety of shapes
GEOMETRIC POTTERY
• Geometric Style: Late Geometric 800-700 BC.Diplyon Krater/grave marker 750-740 BC
Diplyon amphora/grave marker 760-750 BC
Triangular human figures
Battle scene
Funeral scene
GEOMTETRIC POTTERY
• Geometric Style: Late Geometric 800-700 BC
Detail of Figures from pots
GEOMETRIC POTTERY
• Geometric Style: Late Geometric 800-700 BC.Detail of figures from pots
GEOMETRIC POTTERY
• Geometric pottery with its shapes and depictions of humans and animals is one step toward a more realistic view of life.
Periods of Geometric Pottery
More complexit
y ove
r time
Which periods are these pots from?