Looking at Greek Vases

An ancient Greek vase is a difficult object for the non-expert to come to terms with. Faced with rows of apparently undifferentiated black, red and buff pots, he or she is at a loss as to where to begin. Greek vases are treated as objets d’art in the modern world, but how much were they worth in the ancient? They are often used to demonstrate ‘the Greek genius’ and aspects of ancient Greek society, but why do many of them carry Eastern motifs, and why do so many turn up in Italy? Why were the Greeks not content with simple patterns on their pottery? What did the pictures on the pots mean to them? Why should a vase depict a scene from a play? These are the sorts of questions that this book attempts to answer. As the title implies, it is a series of ‘looks’ at Greek vases, offering suggestions on how to read the often complex images they present, and also explaining how they were made and distributed. Chapters have been contributed by a distinguished team of scholars, who have written with a wide readership in mind. The book is intended to be read by students of Greek art in universities and schools and also by museum-goers and any one who feels curiosity about the society and history of ancient Greece.

Frontispiece; Preface; Map; 1. Adopting an approach Martin Robertson and Mary Beard; 2. The geometric style: birth of the picture J. N. Coldstream; 3. Corinth and the orientalising phenomenon Tom Ramussen; 4. The sixth-century potters and painters of Athens and their public John Boardman; 5. Vase-painting in fifth-century; 6. Greek vases in Etruria Nigel Spivey; 7. Farce and tragedy in South Italian vase-painting A. D. Trendall; 8. Fine wares in the Hellenistic world J. W. Hayes; 9. Greek vases in the marketplace Alan Johnston; 10. A closer look at the potter J. M. Hemelrijk; Greek vase shapes; Further reading and notes; List of illustrations; Index

‘ … an excellent book, presenting … a wide variety of viewpoints from which ancient pottery can be studied.’ Martin Kilner, Classical Views