Jessica Kago, Kim Krebs, Alessandra Quaroni

MYCENAEAN CERAMICS

Early Mycenaean ceramics began with influences from the earlier Minoan civilization on the island of Crete, so much so it is believed that Minoans eventually migrated to the mainland.As time went on, techniques were improved and decorations modified. Towards the end of the Mycenaean civilization, techniques used to make ceramic vessels far surpassed the motifs and decorations painted on the ceramics, although several modifications to style were made.

Purposes of ceramic making varied greatly; ceramic was widely used as a storage vessel for olive oil and wine, two major exports and staples of Mycenaean civilizations. Jugs, jars, and goblets were also used for drinking and storing dry goods, but every purpose influenced the shape of the container. 

 All pottery was hand made. Small goblets, jugs, cups, and tankards were spun on a wheel while the large storage jars were shapped by hand. Designs on the pottery were hand-painted on or molded on with more clay in the shape of rope or figures. Through the growth of the Mycenaen Civilization, styles naturally changed along with the culture. Patterns and drawings were influenced by the time period as well as the individual potters. Many potters produced their own styles of pottery. Shapes became more elegant and alternative materials were sometimes added, such as alabaster to clay. This mix formed alabastron, a pottery-building material.

Many styles were developed as products of the Mycenaean lifestyle. The Marine Style as shown on this pottery was used through the duration of the Mycenean civilization. The sea was a large part of daily life, so creatures from the sea were often painted onto the vases and goblets. Octopus motifs were often painted onto ceramics using their own ink.

 The Pattern Style was another common decoration method used on                                   ceramics, often depicting sea creatures, shells, flowers, and                                   patterns; easy pictures to organize into patterns. Towards the                                   latter part of the Mycenaean era, the Pattern Style evolved into  

these vases are forms of          simple patterns and squiggles.

the myceanaean pottery

created through the empire

269 x 400 - 28k - web.onetel.net.uk/.../hgrafs05/ch526ts.gif

Image may be subject to copyright.

Below is the image at: web.onetel.net.uk/~victorbryant/frame1tu5.html

 Another common decoration style was the Pictorial Style. Early in its use, pictures were often copied from palace frescoes. Common subjects were chariot scenes. Deep bowls decorated using the Pictorial Style developed common motifs of bulls, birds, and sphinxes. The animals' bodies were often sectioned into different designs, such as dots, lines, crosses, chevrons, and circles, perhaps based off of textiles as opposed to frescoes.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     THIS IS A MAP OF THE MYCENAEAN AND                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              MINOAN REGION                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   FROM WHICH ALL OF THIS LOVELY POTTERY                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ORIGINATED

                                                                                                                                                                                                              449 x 447 - 57 www.wwnorton.com/.../ralp/ralimage /map4gree.jpg

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Image may be subject to copyright.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Below is the image at: www.wwnorton.com/.../ralph/resource/greece.htm

this is a small example of the pattern era

171 x 180 - 7k - www.mlahanas.de/.../ThMycenaeanVaseAO19201.jpg

Image may be subject to copyright.

Below is the image at: www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Pottery2.htm

Bibliography

Higgins, Reynold. “The Minor Arts in the Late Bronze Age: Pottery.” Minoan and Mycenaean Art. By Reynold Higgins. New York: Thames & Hudson, 1997. 103-124.

Stokstad, Marilyn. “Aegean Art: Mainland Greece and the Mycenaean Civilization: Ceramics.” Art History. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1999. 149.