Storage vessels and drinking vessels - Homeric World

Who were the Mycenaeans inspired by ?

The Mycenaeans were talented at pottery as they imitated Minoans who were excellent potters in their own regard.

How were they made ?

• The basic shape was made on a potter’s wheel

• patterns were applied later

• An iron-rich slip ( made from water and clay ) was added and depending on the temperature of the kiln, it would turn red or black.

Pithos - plu. Pithoi

Dimensions and size :

• over 1.5m high

• weighing over 2 tonnes when filled

purpose :

• contain liquid or food

• be partially buried into the ground to keep contents cool and fresh.

• Contain oil ( fire hazard ) - many ancient cities suffered from huge fires.

Amphora - plu. Amphorae

Dimensions and size :

• Much smaller than Pithos

• narrower neck

• most were 45cm tall

They were often painted with elaborate geometric patterns or images from nature

Purpose :

• storing wine/olive oil

What did Amphoras show us about Mycenaean art ?

• showed us that the Mycenaeans liked to decorate their pots.

• common style of decoration included :

  • marine life

  • plant life

  • geometric patterns

The neck and the lower part of the amphora was painted in lines or a solid block - forcing eyes to focus on the main imagery.

Stirrup jar

Common ?

• Yes, it was the most common vessel in Mycenaean times

Details :

• The jar gets its name from the handle which resembles stirrups on a horse.

Purpose :

• storing oil or wine

What designs were on Stirrup jars ?

• precise geometric designs that influenced later Greek pottery.

Kraters

Size : quite big

Use :

• mixing water and wine

Kylix

Details :

• long stem

• two small handles

use :

• drinking cup - wine

Notable example : Theseus Kylix

Rhyton - plu. Rhyta

Size :

• differs depending on the shape of the Rhyton ( i.e normal vessel/ animal head/ other figure

• roughly cone shaped

Materials :

pottery or metal

Use :

• containing and pouring liquid ( wine )

• most likely used at banquets, feasts

• liquid designed to fall from the bottom or the mouth of animal head.

Lion Head Rhyton

Significance :

• Rhtyon is in the form of a lion’s head

  • fitting imagery for rulers of Mycenae - suggests it might have been used by royals.

• liquid would poured in through the top of the head.

• poured out through the muzzle.

• impressive as it is both very beautiful and intricate but functional - impressive craftsmanship and wealth of Mycenae

Bull Head Rhyton ( Mycenae )

Date : 15th Century BC

Material : Silver with gold horns

Significance :

• silver head - wealth, nobility

• gold horns, multilayered gold rosette on the top of its head and gold plating on nose - sign of wealth and nobility perhaps

• one hole between the horns ( for filling the rhyton )

• one hole at the mouth ( for pouring )

evidence of high levels of craftsmanship - hammering, repoussé, inlay

What was early Mycenaean Age pottery decorations like ?

earliest :

• double axes

• spirals

• leaves

Later :

• Chariot racing

• bulls

• human figures

Even later :

• flowers

• spiralled whorl shells

• zig zags and vertical lines.

Warrior Vase ( Mycenae )

Date : 13th Century BC

Location : House of the Warrior, Mycenae

Material : clay

details :

• soldiers departing for war

• women on the side waving goodbye, lamenting their departure.

• Handles are horned animals with eating ducks

Significance :

evidence of weaponry and armour

pottery skill and artistic technique ( iron-rich slip )

evidence of Mycenaean war culture and importance

Pithos

Location : Crete

Mycenaean style - craftsmanship

Significance :

• evidence of trade

• evidence of skilled craftsmanship - geometric patterns

Octopus Amphorae ( Mycenae )

Date : 15th century BC

Location : Mycenae palace

Significance :

• evidence of vase shape and decoration of Mycenaean period

• evidence of aquatic life then

• evidence of craftsmanship and skill - detailed octopus image,

• technique - using iron-rich slip and control of temperature

Plant Amphorae of palms ( Mycenae )

Mycenaean craftsmanship - evidence of artistic skills

• evidence of variation of different imagery ( nature in this one )

Miniature perfume vessel

Mycenaean craftsmanship - artistic skills, very small - quite impressive that the Mycenaeans were able to create this.

amphorae with bands and geometric patterns ( Mycenae )

• evidence of variation in patterns - stripes on this one

Octopus stirrup jar ( Mycenae )

• evidence of variation in pottery types and imagery

  • octopus imagery is again used

• skilled craftsmanship - detailed octopus image, fish on bottom with some floral patterns.

Swirl Stirrup Jar ( Mycenae )

• evidence of skilled craftsmanship - detailed spiralling patterns

  • relatively symmetrical and orderly.

Stirrup jar with geometric patterns

Date : 12th century BC

Location : Mycenae

Material : Clay

Significance :

• evidence of good craftsmanship

  • iron-rich slip used to create intricate pattern

  • range of colours ( red-brown )

Chariot race krater ( Mycenae )

• Evidence of chariots and usage - race is depicted on the krater.

• Evidence of variation in imagery - chariots and humans ( later period )

Bull Krater ( Mycenae )

• evidence of skilled craftsmanship - iron rich slip is used to create different shades of red, brown, black.

• evidence of different animals in Mycenaean culture ( i.e bull and bird/crane )

Kylix with tongues

• evidence of variation in decorations - i.e there’s narrow, semi-circular tongue like figures depicted now.

Octopus Kylix

• evidence of marine life in Mycenaean times

• evidence of craftsmanship good or bad - octopus imagery and rims.

Ephyraean Vase

Date : 14th - 15th century BC

Location : Found in Crete

Material : Clay

Significance :

• Mycenaean workmanship - evidence of trade in pottery from Mycenae.

• evidence of skilled craftsmanship - Mycenaean pottery was sought after…

Aside from pottery, what other vessels were found ?

Vessels like jugs, cups made of gold from Mycenaean times were also found

Gold swirl cup

Date : 16th century BC

Location : Grave Circle A, Mycenae

Material : Gold

Significance :

• evidence of metalworking skills ( repousse swirls )

• evidence of drinking culture - what types of vessels were used ?

• wealth of Mycenae ( gold cup )

Vapheio cups x2 - bull hunt

Date : 15th century BC

Location : Vapheio, near Sparta

Material : Gold

Details :

• one cup shows a man tying a rope around bull’s leg without struggling

• second cup shows bull caught in net while another two attack hunters, one is fleeing '

Significance : evidence of hunting

• one handled, no stems and aren’t curved

• Probably not Mycenaean as the quality much higher and is too detailed be of Mycenaean craftsmanship.

• Possible that these cups were made in Crete in Minoan times

• provides us with detail on hunting but not for Mycenae or the Mycenaean Age

  • could be used in a 8 marker/15 marker to disapprove of something about Mycenae…

Cup of Nestor ( Mycenae )

Date : 16th Century BC

Location : Grave Circle A Mycenae

details :

• two eagles on the handles

• so heavy when full that it probably wouldn’t be able to be picked up easily.

Material : Gold

Significance :

• Similar to cup of Nestor described in the Iliad ( that cup had two doves on the handles )

• wealth of Mycenae - golden cup