Symposia What do you know?

PROTO-GEOMETRIC PERIOD The first major style produced by Athens

Development and Innovations Amphora BC Began in Athens 11 th Century Mycenaean period BC

Development and Innovations Amphora BC Mycenaean period –Strongest influence = shapes chosen for decoration Belly Amphora, the neck handled amphora, the krater, the lekythos and oinochoe

#1 - Fast wheel Use Increased height and surface Invented 2000BC –Fell out of use –rediscovered #2 – Firing Process Temperature increased –Darker, more lustrous glaze

Design and Decoration Clay ground Technique –Most common –Painting dark designs on light-coloured clay body Dark Ground Technique –Towards end of period –Black slip –Small area left in reserve Designs painted inside

Design and Decoration Multiple Brush –Several even lines to be painted at once while turning –Also used to create circles

Design and Decoration Other Stylistic features –Checkerboard pattern –Zigzags –Triangles –Hatched rectangles –lozenges The First Attic Style –Proto-Geometric style copied by potters in Corinth, Boetia and the Aegean Islands

GEOMETRIC PERIOD The next stage in pottery evolution

Linear designs –Circle fell out of use –Meander –Used to frame panels of decoration –Favoured lekythoi and amphora –Dark style Dipylon amphora Decorated with a scene of mourning c. 750 BC

Figures from Nature –After 800BC –Animals and other figures –Absorbed by overall decoration –Still linear

Human Figures –After animals = humans –First human appears approx. 770BC –Abstract Male Female Filling ornament –Make a balanced pattern of light and dark – no figure too prominent

The Dipylon Painter –Leading artist –750 BC –Named after area in Athens – Dipylon Gate –1.5 metre tall Grave marker

OREIENTALISING PERIOD At conclusion of 8 th century = end of Athens’ dominance as centre of artistic innovation Corinth takes over new range of subjects and motifs

Decoration Corinthian olpe, decorated animal styl BC The Animal Style –Exotic beasts like lions and panthers –Deer and goats –Mythological creatures Pegasus (winged horse) Sphinx (bird/lion/woman) Griffin (eagle/lion)

Plant Designs –Lotus flowers, buds, palmettes, volutes –Filling ornament Middle Corinthian aryballos decorated in the black figure technique BC Human Figures –More elaborate –Fully armed Greek soldiers –Rigid, stylised

The Black-Figure technique –One of the Greatest innovations –Sharp instrument – deep incisions – light coloured clay beneath –Confined to smaller vessels New Vase Shapes –Aryballos, Skyphos Middle Corinthian aryballos decorated in the black figure technique BC

PRO-ATTIC PERIOD Style produced in Athens during Orientalising period Different to Corinthian style Greek myths popular Large scale painting

Amphora from Eleusis –Neck: Odysseus blinding Polyphemus –Belly: Perseus and Gorgans Amphora from Eleusis decorated with mythological scenes 7 th Century BC

Painted in outline Two crewmen and Cyclops in black silhouette Faces painted white to emphasise importance Gorgans chasing Perseus Demise of Style –Unrestrained creativity –Disciplined influence of Corinthian Orientalising style

BLACK FIGURE TECHNIQUE

Olpe by the Amasis Painter Depicts Perseus killing the gorgan Medusa Old Features Cont. –Animals and animal friezes –Ornamentation Floral and stylised –Patterns no longer a filling ornament Accent shape of vessel Framing

Innovations –White paint on female flesh –Male flesh stays black –More naturalistic human form –After 6 th Century – attempt ¾ pose –Depiction of drapery Miniature and Grand Styles –Miniature Style = inspired by Corinthian –Grand Style = created by potters in Athens

RED FIGURE TECHNIQUE Invented approx. 530 BC More lively, natural appearance

The Berlin Painter Innovations –Relief line – raised line off surface – syringe-like tool Greater texture –Honey-coloured dilute glaze used for shading –Pose and dress –Male –Female

Belly amphora Berlin Painter BC –Relief lines used to create elaborate drapery –Appear to be sculpted like stone

Clothing