Ancient Greek Pots

Greek pots are important because they tell us so much about how life was in Athens and other ancient Greek cities. Pots came in all sorts of shapes and sizes depending on their purpose, and were often beautifully decorated with scenes from daily life. Sometimes these scenes reflect what the pot was used for.

The Greeks believed that the goddess Athena invented the potter's wheel.

Types of pot

AlabastronAlabastra were small vases used by women for storing perfume or oil. Perfume was made by adding scented flowers and spices to oil.Some alabastra would come with dip-sticks so that women could easily apply the perfume to themselves.Others would be placed in tombs

AmphoraAmphora means 'to carry on both sides.' Amphorae were used for carrying and storing solids and liquids

Amphora

ChousChoes were jugs. Small versions of these were associated with the young.

Choes are usually decorated with children, perhaps learning to crawl or playing with toy carts.

When boys were 3 years old, they were given a chous filled with wine at the Anthesteria festival. They would be allowed to drink the wine to prove that they were on their way to being men.

Sometimes choes were put in the graves of children

ChytraChytrai were cooking

pots.

The fact that these large pots are clumsy, undecorated and made out of rough clay is a big clue to their function.

Chytrai are basic cooking pots, used for heating water or soup on the fire.

HydriaHydria were specifically formed for carrying water. They had three handles: two horizontally oriente Hydria were specifically formed for carrying water. They had three handles: two horizontally oriented handles set on opposite sid Hydria were specifically formed for carrying water. They had three handles: two horizontally oriented handles set on opposite sides of the pot’s body, and one vertical handle set in between the other two. The vertical handle was used in pouring.es of the pot’s body, and one vertical handle set in between the other two. The vertical handle was used in pouring.

Sphinx

Sphinx is a flat pot mostly used for carrying food.

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