How Was Greek Pottery Different From Roman Pottery?
Greek and Roman pottery share similarities in function and purpose, yet have distinct differences in materials, vessel types, decoration, manufacturing, major production centers, and styles. While Greek pottery emphasized decorative painting, Roman pottery focused more on functional vessels for daily use. This article explores how Greek and Roman pottery evolved in unique ways while serving comparable roles in their respective societies.
Materials
The primary material used to create Greek pottery was clay. According to Encyclopedia Brittanica, the finest clay was found in Athens which allowed Athenian potters to produce very thin-walled pieces. Other areas of Greece also had access to quality clay deposits that were used for pottery production.
To improve the workability and durability of the clay, potters would add various materials as tempers. Common additives included sand, crushed pottery, ground seashells, and even sawdust. Adding these materials prevented cracking and made the clay easier to work with on the potter’s wheel. According to World History Encyclopedia, finely levigated clay produced the thin orange and black wares associated with fine Greek pottery.
Glazes were also sometimes applied to the surface of Greek pottery. These included opaque colored glazes as well as black gloss and red gloss which helped protect and enhance the decoration.
Vessel Types
Ancient Greek pottery included a wide variety of vessel shapes and sizes used for different purposes.[1] Some of the most common vessel types were amphorae, kraters, hydriai, pelikai, kylixes, skyphoi, lekythoi, and aryballoi.
Amphorae were tall, narrow necked jars used for storing and transporting oil, wine, grains, and other goods. They were often decorated with abstract geometric designs during the Geometric period.[2]
Kraters were large, wide-mouthed bowls used for mixing water and wine at symposia or social drinking gatherings. Popular krater types included volute, calyx, bell, and column kraters. Kraters were commonly painted with mythological scenes.[3]
Hydriai were jugs used for fetching and carrying water, while pelikai were larger jugs used for storing wine and oil. Both had a narrow neck, handle, and footed base. Oenochoai were long-necked pitchers specifically for pouring wine.[1]
Kylixes were stemless drinking cups with two horizontal handles, while skyphoi were deep drinking cups with two vertical handles. Aryballoi were small globular flasks for storing perfumes and oils. Lekythoi were slender jars used to hold oil and perfumes, often left as grave offerings.[2]
Decoration
Greek pottery is known for its painted decoration, while Roman pottery often lacks painting and focuses more on the shape and texture of vessels.
Greek potters used a variety of painting techniques including the black-figure and red-figure styles. Black-figure painting involved silhouette figures on a red background, with details scratched into the silhouettes. Red-figure painting reversed this, with red figures on a black background and details painted on.
Glazing was an important technique in Greek pottery decoration. The Attic tradition developed a thin black glaze known as “Attic black slip” that allowed for refined decoration. Greek potters also used the black-on-red style involving black glaze decoration on the reddish clay.
In contrast, Roman pottery usually did not utilize painting for decoration. Some fine Roman ware was partially covered with slip in red or black for decoration, but generally had minimal painted ornamentation. The Romans focused more on the shape of vessels and textural effects.
Source: https://www.britannica.com/art/Greek-pottery
Manufacturing
The ancient Greeks primarily used the wheel-throwing technique to manufacture their pottery. The potter would throw clay on a potter’s wheel to shape the vessel by hand (How were ancient Greek pots made?). This allowed them to create symmetrical pottery with thinner walls compared to hand-molded techniques. The Romans also utilized wheel-throwing, especially for mass-producing basic utilitarian wares like amphorae.
However, the Romans also frequently made use of molds to manufacture some of their more detailed pottery designs. The potter would press soft clay into a fired ceramic mold to imprint a pattern or design (Ancient Roman Pottery | Rome Pottery – Maria Milani). This allowed for more standardized and intricate designs than wheel-throwing alone. The Romans were prolific producers of mold-made ceramic lamps, boxes, and figurines. They also continued to produce some pottery by hand as well.
Function
Both Greek and Roman pottery served a variety of functions including domestic use, funerary purposes, and trade. However, there were some differences in their typical functions.
Greek pottery was closely tied to daily domestic life. Vessels like amphorae, kraters, and lekythoi were used for storing and serving food and drink. Pottery was also ubiquitous in the funeral rites of ancient Greece, with vessels filled with oils and perfumes buried in tombs. Trade was another major function, as Athenian painted vases were exported across the Mediterranean.
Roman pottery also had domestic uses, especially utilitarian wares like bowls, plates, and cookware for preparing and serving meals. Distinctively Roman vessel types like the dolium storage jar reflect other household functions. Roman pottery was not as tied to burials, but ceramics did furnish some tombs. Trade was important but more localized, distributing wares regionally rather than throughout an empire. Samian ware tableware and amphorae for olive oil and wine were key exports.
So while practical daily use and trade characterized both, Greek pottery was more funerary in function compared to the more domestic focus of Roman pottery.
Major Production Centers
Some of the major production centers for Greek pottery included:
Athens – Athens was one of the most prolific centers of pottery production in ancient Greece. Athenian potters pioneered the production of red-figure and black-figure pottery starting in the 6th century BCE. Famous examples include the pottery made by the workshop of the Attic vase painter Exekias.
Corinth – Corinth was another major hub for Greek pottery production. Corinthian potters specialized in painted pottery and pioneered important techniques like the black-figure style in the 7th century BCE. The Corinthian style was widely exported and imitated.
Italy – Greek colonists in Italy produced large quantities of pottery for both local use and export. Italian Greek pottery drew on styles and techniques from Corinth and Athens. The most famous example is the elaborate red-figure pottery of the 4th century BCE Painter of Tarquinia.
Timeline
Ancient Greek pottery went through several stylistic periods that coincided with significant cultural shifts in Greek society. The major periods include:
Geometric Period (c. 900-700 BCE): The earliest Greek pottery had geometric designs painted on a buff clay surface. This period saw the rise of the polis and the beginnings of monumental architecture and sculpture. Source
Orientalizing Period (c. 700-600 BCE): Greek potters began incorporating Eastern motifs into their geometric designs. Mythological creatures and animals became common. Source
Archaic Period (c. 600-480 BCE): Black-figure and red-figure painting techniques emerged. Vessels commonly depicted scenes from Greek mythology and daily life. Source
Classical Period (c. 480-323 BCE): Considered the height of Greek pottery-making. Red-figure painting perfected with detailed scenes painted on large vessels. Source
In contrast, Roman pottery can be divided into the Roman Republic (509 BCE – 27 BCE) which saw local Italian styles evolve and the Roman Empire (27 BCE – 476 CE) when mass production supplied ceramics across the Empire. Source
Notable Examples
Some of the most famous examples of ancient Greek pottery include the Dipylon Vase, Amphorae, Kraters, and Psyckters. The Dipylon Vase, which dates back to 750-725 BCE, is a Geometric period funerary vessel characterized by abstract geometric shapes and stylized human figures (Source). Amphorae, tall jars with two handles, were commonly used to transport wine and olive oil. The Panathenaic prize amphorae given to winners at the Panathenaic Games are a famous type decorated with Athena (Source). Kraters, large vessels used for mixing wine and water, evolved into elaborate decorative forms. The Dionysos Kraters painted by Exekias in the 6th century BCE depict Dionysian revelry scenes (Source). Psyckters, a type of krater with a high neck, were used to cool wine. The Psyckter painted by Euphronios depicting the death of Sarpedon is an incredible example discovered through archaeological excavation (Source).
Conclusion
In summary, there were several key differences between Greek and Roman pottery. Greek pottery was characterized by an emphasis on vase shapes like amphorae, kraters, and hydriae, and bold painted decoration with black-figure and red-figure styles. Greek pottery originated earlier in the 8th century BCE and production was centered in Athens and other city-states. Roman pottery emerged later, around the 3rd century BCE, and focused more on tableware and utilitarian vessels like bowls, jugs, and lamps. Decoration on Roman pottery was often simpler, featuring red glossy slips and barbotine motifs. While Greek pottery was made by specialized artisans, Roman pottery production became more industrialized and mass-produced. Both cultures used their pottery extensively for functions ranging from wine drinking to funerary offerings. But Greek pottery placed a premium on artistry and aesthetics, while Roman pottery was valued more for its practicality and availability throughout the empire. These key differences reflect the unique cultures, priorities, and innovations of the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations.
