6 Types of Ancient Greek Vases – Styles & Facts

    If you are wondering what you can do to find classical art that is both beautiful, stylish, and cultured, then take a look at some of the pottery from Museum Replicas! At Museum Replicas, our goal is to provide you with exceptional artwork that has been made using the same materials and methods as they did during ancient times. Of course, before you decide what replicas to choose, you need to know how they were used.

    4 Main Categories

    Greek vases evolved over a prolonged period of time. As the craftsmanship of these vessels improved, so did their styles. In general, it is possible to divide these vessels into four different categories. They include:

    • Transport and Storage Vessels: These vessels were mainly used to move liquid from place to place in a safe, secure manner. A few of the most common examples of these vessels include the pyxis, the amphora, the pelike, the hydria, and the pithos.
    • Oil, Cosmetic, and Perfume Storage Vases: These vases were mainly used in an aesthetic manner. A few of the common examples include the smaller vessels (which are the alabastron and the aryballos) and the larger examples (such as the lekythos).
    • Vessels Used for Mixing Purposes: These vessels were mainly used to mix water and wine together in an effort to dilute the liquid before consuming it. These were commonly used at drinking parties and include options such as the krater and the dinos.
    • Cups and Jugs: Used to drink from directly, the defining vessel of this category is the kylix. A few of the most common examples include the phiale, the skyphos, the kantharos, the oinochoe, and the loutrophoros.

    This is only one way to divide Greek pottery; however, it is the most straightforward. Because there are so many types of vessels in these categories, it is important to take a closer look at a few examples.

    6 Greek Pottery Types and Facts About Each

    When it comes to Greek pottery, it can be divided into countless ways. It is helpful to take a look at a few examples of Greek pottery and learn a little bit about each option. Some of the most popular Greek vase replicas that we provide include:

    1. The Amphora: This is one of the most common types of Greek pottery. There are countless amphoras that have been uncovered all over the world, allowing us to study what makes each amphora unique. This vessel is meant to be carried on either side. Each amphora has two vertical handles. They were used mainly to store and transport liquids, such as wine and water. In some cases, they were also used to store solids, such as grain or olives. They have a deep base that narrows at the neck. In some cases, they also came with lids.
    2. The Krater: This is another very common type of vessel that was used in Greek culture. This is one of the most popular mixing vessels. This is a large container that has a wide foot that helps keep it upright. This container was commonly used at parties, where wine was mixed with water to dilute it slightly before it was served. Many kraters are adorned with intricate ornamentation of various feats of human accomplishment. They were also used as grave markers in some situations.
    3. The Kylix: The kylix is one of the smallest examples of Greek pottery. This is a cup from which people drank directly. Many kylices were based on designs that were found in Asia. Over time, they improved on the design to make it more suitable for their purposes. They also added a base to the vessel, making it easier to balance, along with handles, making it easier to hold. A lot of kylices had images on the bottom. Then, when the drinker drained the vessel, they would lift it up and show everyone else what was on the bottom of the cup.
    4. Plates: In addition to the categories above, Greek culture was also heavily focused on plates. These plates came in all shapes and sizes and usually had exceptional ornamentation on them. Wide enough and heavy enough to stand up to routine wear and tear, many of the images on the plates were of people or animals. In some situations, the scenes would be incredibly detailed, showing impressive feats of Greek history and culture on them.
    5. The Loutrophoros: This is one of the most recognizable examples of Greek culture. The loutrophoros is a wide, narrow vessel that was commonly used to carry water and other liquids from place to place. The base is wide and there is a foot at the bottom, allowing the tall vessel to remain upright. In addition, the neck was exceptionally long which ended with a wide mouth at the top. There are handles on the sides of these vessels to make them easier to carry.
    6. The Chous: The main purpose of the chous is to take wine from the krater and pour it into a drinking vessel. While the krater was mainly used to serve wine, the chous would be used to take wine from the krater and pour it into individual drinking cups. These were common sights at large festivals where there were lots of people in attendance. These vessels also had a lot of impressive scenes depicted on them.

    Over the years, we have worked hard to expand the array of options that we provide when it comes to Greek pottery. That means that we are able to provide you with more options as well.

    Purchase High-Quality and Authentically Crafted Replicas

    If you are looking for outstanding replicas that will fit in your home or office, then we have the answer. At Museum Replicas, we place the needs of our clients ahead of our own. We will work with you to find the perfect replicas to match just about any style. If you would like to learn more about the options that we provide, give us a call today! We would be happy to help you!

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