East Greek vase painting
Encyclopedia
East Greek vase painting was a regional style of ancient Greek vase painting, produced in East Greece. In spite of the region's wealth, the pottery was rather unremarkable in comparison to other areas. The clay is red-brown to pink and often contains mica
inclusions. Many regional sub-styles of East Greek pottery existed.
East Greek Geometric vase painting, starting in the Middle Geometric period, shows a strong influence by Attic vase painting. Especially on Kos
, this is notable at an early stage. The shape of lekythoi
also indicates a Cypriot
influence. Rhodes
also produced large vases, including tall-footed krater
s. The distinguishing feature of East Greek vase painting were diagionally hatched meander
s, triangles and rhomboids. Later, waterfowl were added as a motif. The Attic system of metope
-like panes was also adopted, but abandoned soon after. By the end of the Geometric period, vases were often covered in a white slip
, onto which the paint was applied.
Until the 7th century BC, Geometric shapes were continued within the Subgeometric style. This style lasted much longer here than in other Greek regions. Only by about 650 BC was it replaced with an orientalising animal style. This began initially at or near Miletus
; a second centre developed after about 625 BC on Chios
. The decorational system of this animal style is named after the most commonly depicted creature, the Wild Goat
style. Until 600 BC, vase painting relied entirely on painted silhouettes and reservations, than, beginning in northern Ionia
, incision (black-figure style) started to spread. The animal frieze style was quite decorative, but allowed little scope for further development. Especially in Ionian vase painting, regional styles now began to develop.
Mica
The mica group of sheet silicate minerals includes several closely related materials having highly perfect basal cleavage. All are monoclinic, with a tendency towards pseudohexagonal crystals, and are similar in chemical composition...
inclusions. Many regional sub-styles of East Greek pottery existed.
East Greek Geometric vase painting, starting in the Middle Geometric period, shows a strong influence by Attic vase painting. Especially on Kos
Kos
Kos or Cos is a Greek island in the south Sporades group of the Dodecanese, next to the Gulf of Gökova/Cos. It measures by , and is from the coast of Bodrum, Turkey and the ancient region of Caria. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within the Kos peripheral unit, which is...
, this is notable at an early stage. The shape of lekythoi
Lekythos
A lekythos is a type of Greek pottery used for storing oil , especially olive oil. It has a narrow body and one handle attached to the neck of the vessel. The lekythos was used for anointing dead bodies of unmarried men and many lekythoi are found in tombs. The images on lekythoi were often...
also indicates a Cypriot
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
influence. Rhodes
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
also produced large vases, including tall-footed krater
Krater
A krater was a large vase used to mix wine and water in Ancient Greece.-Form and function:...
s. The distinguishing feature of East Greek vase painting were diagionally hatched meander
Meander
A meander in general is a bend in a sinuous watercourse. A meander is formed when the moving water in a stream erodes the outer banks and widens its valley. A stream of any volume may assume a meandering course, alternately eroding sediments from the outside of a bend and depositing them on the...
s, triangles and rhomboids. Later, waterfowl were added as a motif. The Attic system of metope
Metope
"Metope" might refer to the following:*metope , the space between two triglyphs of a Doric frieze*Metope , a river nymph in Greek mythology*Metope , electronic music producer Michael Schwanen...
-like panes was also adopted, but abandoned soon after. By the end of the Geometric period, vases were often covered in a white slip
Slip (ceramics)
A slip is a suspension in water of clay and/or other materials used in the production of ceramic ware. Deflocculant, such as sodium silicate, can be added to the slip to disperse the raw material particles...
, onto which the paint was applied.
Until the 7th century BC, Geometric shapes were continued within the Subgeometric style. This style lasted much longer here than in other Greek regions. Only by about 650 BC was it replaced with an orientalising animal style. This began initially at or near Miletus
Miletus
Miletus was an ancient Greek city on the western coast of Anatolia , near the mouth of the Maeander River in ancient Caria...
; a second centre developed after about 625 BC on Chios
Chios
Chios is the fifth largest of the Greek islands, situated in the Aegean Sea, seven kilometres off the Asia Minor coast. The island is separated from Turkey by the Chios Strait. The island is noted for its strong merchant shipping community, its unique mastic gum and its medieval villages...
. The decorational system of this animal style is named after the most commonly depicted creature, the Wild Goat
Wild Goat
The wild goat is a widespread species of goat, with a distribution ranging from Europe and Asia Minor to central Asia and the Middle East. It is the ancestor of the domestic goat.-Social structure:...
style. Until 600 BC, vase painting relied entirely on painted silhouettes and reservations, than, beginning in northern Ionia
Ionia
Ionia is an ancient region of central coastal Anatolia in present-day Turkey, the region nearest İzmir, which was historically Smyrna. It consisted of the northernmost territories of the Ionian League of Greek settlements...
, incision (black-figure style) started to spread. The animal frieze style was quite decorative, but allowed little scope for further development. Especially in Ionian vase painting, regional styles now began to develop.