POTTERY TALES. Written and drown by Ambra Palermo Translation by Marta Berogno. Edge. Handle. Lip. Neck. Shoulder. Belly. Foot

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1 POTTERY TALES Written and drown by Ambra Palermo Translation by Marta Berogno Pottery is a very important material for every day's life: the dishes where we eat the good food cooked by mom are made of ceramic, or the flowers-pots we put on the balcony or in the garden. Pottery is nothing but clay cooked at high temperature, and once it s cooked, it becomes a perfect material to contain liquids and solids. It was very important for the ancient Greeks too, they used this material to produce vessels to transport or to store food and drinks. These vessels were decorated with pictures taken from myths and epic poems that Greeks learned since the first years of school. This is a journey to learn about the most common shapes of Greek pottery through the myths and stories that were depicted above. Are you ready? But which parts form an antique vase, and why not, also the vase where you plant your favorite flowers? Lip Edge Handle Neck Shoulder Belly Foot

2 You have to know that Greek pottery may be divided in three categories depending on the use to which vessels were intended for: vessels for carrying food, drinking vessels for pouring and drinking wine at banquets of the aristocrats banquets, oils, perfumes and cosmetics vessels. Let's start! Achilles and Ajax are two valiant princes who fight under the command of Agamemnon in a land far away from home. They followed the king who wants to bring home the Queen Helen, his brother Menelaus wife; the queen has been kidnapped by the prince of Troy. They ve fought a lot, and then, to rest, they ve decided to play: they re sitting in a tent and after taking off their weapons, they re playing dice. This scene is painted by the famous pottery painter (painter of vases) Exechias on an amphora. The amphora is a large bowl with two handles which was used in ancient time for the transport and storage of food, especially wine and oil. Image taken from internet

3 We are inside a pottery workshop: the master is sitting on a chair, finishing a cup, the goddess Athena stands in front of him: she s looking at the man s work. At the sides there are two assistants who are competing to see who is the best vases painter. Above them two Nike (goddess of victory) are waiting for the outcome to crown the winner. But they re not the only ones at work! Even a woman, perhaps the teacher's wife, is helping in the shop. This scene is painted by the Leningrad Painter on a hydria. The hydria is a vessel that was used exclusively for the transport and storage of water: it had three handles, two horizontal for lifting and carrying and one vertical for pouring water. Images taken from internet

4 it down, to make it drinkable. It s the marriage of Peleus and Thetis. Peleus is a great warrior and Thetis is a goddess of the sea. All deities participate and accompany the couple in a long procession with chariots and horses. The Greek hero Achilles will be born from their union. This myth is painted on the krater François. The krater is a large bowl that was used to mix wine and water, during the symposium ( a convivial meeting for drinking, music, and intellectual discussion): the Greeks didn t drink undiluted wine, since it was too strong, so they used to water Image taken from internet

5 A group of warriors is riding dolphins: they are fully clothed, wearing armor, greaves (which protect the legs), helmet and spear. They also have a shield, each decorated with a different pattern. This scene is depicted on the psyktèr of Oltos (a well-known Greek potter). The psyktèr is a vase that was used for cooling wine at banquets. In fact, the vase was filled with snow or cold water, closed, and then plunged into the krater where there was a mixture of wine and water. Image taken from internet

6 Achilles in a break from the battle decides to go find his horses, those who accompany him in battle, and caresses them to show their affection. This scene is depicted on a kantharos of Nearchos. The kantharos is a type of cup from the handles in the shape of ears and the trumpet-shaped foot which served for drinking the wine. Image taken from internet

7 In a ship in the sea is lying the god Dionysus, who has just escaped a serious danger. In fact that was a ship of pirates who wanted to kidnap the god to sell him as a slave. But Dionysus showing his true nature of divinity has transformed the mast in a vine with many bunches of grapes, which are its symbol, and then punished the pirates changed into dolphins, now swimming around the ship. This myth is depicted in a kylix of Exechias. The kylix is a type of cup with horizontal handles and was used to drink wine. Image taken from internet

8 Bellerophon is a great hero of the city of Corinth. For his courage is sent in Lycia, a distant land to fight against a terrible monster, the Chimera, which has the body of a lion, the head of a goat on the back and the tail of a serpent. With Bellerophon is Pegasus, his winged horse, who helps him in the adventure. Bellerophon with his spear can kill the monster and free the inhabitants of Lycia. This myth is depicted on a Aryballos from Thebes (city of Greece). The Aryballos is a small jar that was used for the conservation of oils and perfumes. Image taken from internet

9 AND NOW YOU BECOME AN ANCIENT GREECE POTTERY PAINTER Below you ll find the types of vessels that we have just seen. You can print it out and draw us in creating your story or your myth. Have fun decorating the vessel as you like and become a famous pottery painter of ancient Greece! Do not forget to put your signature on the vase!!! Do you remember the name of this cup? Write it here

10 Do you remember what type of vessel is? Write It here

11 Do you remember the name of this cup? Write it here

12 Do you remember the name of this vessel? Write it here

13 Do you remember the name of this vessel? Write it here

14 Do you remember the name of this vessel? Write it here

15 Do you remember the name of this vessel? Write it here

16 Now, finally, the parts that make up an vase. We have seen the beginning. Do you remember?