Minoan Pottery Research Paper
Minoan Pottery
Minoan Pottery took a great part in gaining information about the Minoan Civilization. Archaeologists were able to find dates of certain events or eras, types of Minoan culture, and the different stages of Minoan civilization was found. Minoan pottery comes in many different forms and sizes along with patterns and style.
It has been discovered that Minoan pottery making started in the Neolithic times. (Neolithic meaning the "New" stone age. It was the time close to the Bronze Age). Pots were created for many reasons. The main reason was to store many things such as food, clothing, etc. Food such as cereal crops were kept in pots, clearly to keep for future needs. Pots were also used frequently for trade along the coastal …show more content…
Syria and in Egypt.
There is a hypothesis that people of the Minoan Civilization accidentally found out how to fire clay materials.
The discovery could have been made by accidentally burning/firing a clay lined basket which later would have turned hard or even become refired. This could have made varieties of cooking methods for the civilization. Later on, pottery turned into an art form from the increase of decorations and style of making.
An early excavator, Harriet Boyd Hawes believes that Minoan potter's inspiration came from
1. Nature- nature was appreciated and was subjected majorly. Figures in the decorations of potteries could possibly be different types of symbols that represented many things. For example, the line left on the sand be receding waves, the ripple on water as the wind crossed it, the mysterious inner markings of a shell, the thousand varieties of spirals in shells and in tendrils, the shadow cast on his(pottery maker) path be interlocking twigs .' (Said by Harriet Boyd Hawes).
2. Sea/marine life- marine life was much subjected in Minoan potteries. Sea creatures such as squid and fish along with vegetation such as seaweed were used a lot for …show more content…
decoration.
It has been proved that there were different kinds of wares (type) of pottery making. The earliest ware dates back to 2700BC (Early Minoan I) which is called the Pigros ware. Because the potters were in-experienced during this stage, the potteries had patterns and colours of burnished red, grey, and light/dark brown for that back ground colour. Sometimes, the potteries had long narrow stems. It is believed that there might have been a possibility where styles were imported from different places around the Minoan civilization.
Later in time, potteries became simpler with linear designs that were often black, brown, red and yellow. These types were decorated to look similar to wood. This ware was called the Agios Onoufrios ware that took place around 2500BC (Early Minoan II). [Example: Figure 1]. Soon another style called Vasiliki Ware was formed. This ware had a reddish-brown wash that were intentionally applied unevenly to show the natural look of the mottled texture of the stone (which was in' during that time). They looked similar to teapots and jugs we have today.
From the Early Minoan I~II, everything was hand made. But after the spinning wheel was invented, there were more varieties in shapes and the walls of the potteries were thinner and smoother. Also, the firing process became more in use and potters started to build actual kilns to fire clay materials. In other words, everything was improved and had better quality. There were developments in colour. Usage of bright colours became more common and it is studied that bright colours such as purple and orange originated from Knossos.
The greatest development took place during the Middle Minoan II times. This was when there were buildings of great structures for example grand palaces and altars. Potteries were important during this time because more things were getting gathered for the structures for offerings and whatnot. The Kamares ware is known for the bright colours, thin walls and beautiful decorations. Unfortunately, the Kamares ware did not last for long.
The beginning of 1700BC was the Middle Minoan III where the potters began to stop the tradition.
People started to become wealthier and wanted precious metal on potteries. Around 1600BC, the Marine Style became very popular. Figures such as dolphins, crabs, octopus, fish, rocks, seaweed and shells were drawn numerous times for decoration. By 1500BC another decorative style, the tortoise-shell ripple, had appeared. Vertical stripes, painting on wet slips and deliberately causing edges to blur, were some of the techniques that were used many times in making cups.
During the late 1400BC, the idea of nature became very dominate and so was the Floral style invented. The patterns and designs were very distinctive and fine. And expert, Peter Warren (1975) made a suggestion that all of the floral style potteries came from Knossos, in a single workshop. Some of the earliest examples of Floral style vessels also came from Knossos that were in the shapes of vases that were decorated and stylized of white
lilies.
Next was the Palace style which was developed during the late temple period, when Knossos dominated most of Crete that had temple potters that worked in a different spirit. They produced more formal, symmetrical and flamboyant work. They were first made in Knossos and used only in Knossos. This suggests that they were made for the use of the ruling elite. Sinclair Hood (1971, 1978) thought that at this time, many signs of mainland influences helped develop the new form which was the Ephyrean style. During this late perios, some of the traditions of the pottering world of the Minoan civilization was used for decoration that were transformed into stiff figures. At this stage, the natural and casual look disappeared. (Late Minoan III 1400-1300BC).
From this stage onwards, potters started concentrate more on impresses their patrons, but still, the importance of the Minoan culture was high. The State of preservation was adequate. Because of their method of firing the clay, the potteries were able to stay intact. The positive side of Minoan pottery is that there are uncountable amounts of them with such beauty.
Word count: 1039
Bilbiography
Castleden, Rodney. Minoans Life in Bronze Age Crete. Retrieved: 22nd Feb 08. Great Britain. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data, 1990
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic
http://www.ou.edu/finearts/art/ahi4913/aegeanhtml/minoanpottery1.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minoan_pottery
Minoan Pottery took a great part in gaining information about the Minoan Civilization. Archaeologists were able to find dates of certain events or eras, types of Minoan culture, and the different stages of Minoan civilization was found. Minoan pottery comes in many different forms and sizes along with patterns and style.
It has been discovered that Minoan pottery making started in the Neolithic times. (Neolithic meaning the "New" stone age. It was the time close to the Bronze Age). Pots were created for many reasons. The main reason was to store many things such as food, clothing, etc. Food such as cereal crops were kept in pots, clearly to keep for future needs. Pots were also used frequently for trade along the coastal …show more content…
Syria and in Egypt.
There is a hypothesis that people of the Minoan Civilization accidentally found out how to fire clay materials.
The discovery could have been made by accidentally burning/firing a clay lined basket which later would have turned hard or even become refired. This could have made varieties of cooking methods for the civilization. Later on, pottery turned into an art form from the increase of decorations and style of making.
An early excavator, Harriet Boyd Hawes believes that Minoan potter's inspiration came from
1. Nature- nature was appreciated and was subjected majorly. Figures in the decorations of potteries could possibly be different types of symbols that represented many things. For example, the line left on the sand be receding waves, the ripple on water as the wind crossed it, the mysterious inner markings of a shell, the thousand varieties of spirals in shells and in tendrils, the shadow cast on his(pottery maker) path be interlocking twigs .' (Said by Harriet Boyd Hawes).
2. Sea/marine life- marine life was much subjected in Minoan potteries. Sea creatures such as squid and fish along with vegetation such as seaweed were used a lot for …show more content…
decoration.
It has been proved that there were different kinds of wares (type) of pottery making. The earliest ware dates back to 2700BC (Early Minoan I) which is called the Pigros ware. Because the potters were in-experienced during this stage, the potteries had patterns and colours of burnished red, grey, and light/dark brown for that back ground colour. Sometimes, the potteries had long narrow stems. It is believed that there might have been a possibility where styles were imported from different places around the Minoan civilization.
Later in time, potteries became simpler with linear designs that were often black, brown, red and yellow. These types were decorated to look similar to wood. This ware was called the Agios Onoufrios ware that took place around 2500BC (Early Minoan II). [Example: Figure 1]. Soon another style called Vasiliki Ware was formed. This ware had a reddish-brown wash that were intentionally applied unevenly to show the natural look of the mottled texture of the stone (which was in' during that time). They looked similar to teapots and jugs we have today.
From the Early Minoan I~II, everything was hand made. But after the spinning wheel was invented, there were more varieties in shapes and the walls of the potteries were thinner and smoother. Also, the firing process became more in use and potters started to build actual kilns to fire clay materials. In other words, everything was improved and had better quality. There were developments in colour. Usage of bright colours became more common and it is studied that bright colours such as purple and orange originated from Knossos.
The greatest development took place during the Middle Minoan II times. This was when there were buildings of great structures for example grand palaces and altars. Potteries were important during this time because more things were getting gathered for the structures for offerings and whatnot. The Kamares ware is known for the bright colours, thin walls and beautiful decorations. Unfortunately, the Kamares ware did not last for long.
The beginning of 1700BC was the Middle Minoan III where the potters began to stop the tradition.
People started to become wealthier and wanted precious metal on potteries. Around 1600BC, the Marine Style became very popular. Figures such as dolphins, crabs, octopus, fish, rocks, seaweed and shells were drawn numerous times for decoration. By 1500BC another decorative style, the tortoise-shell ripple, had appeared. Vertical stripes, painting on wet slips and deliberately causing edges to blur, were some of the techniques that were used many times in making cups.
During the late 1400BC, the idea of nature became very dominate and so was the Floral style invented. The patterns and designs were very distinctive and fine. And expert, Peter Warren (1975) made a suggestion that all of the floral style potteries came from Knossos, in a single workshop. Some of the earliest examples of Floral style vessels also came from Knossos that were in the shapes of vases that were decorated and stylized of white
lilies.
Next was the Palace style which was developed during the late temple period, when Knossos dominated most of Crete that had temple potters that worked in a different spirit. They produced more formal, symmetrical and flamboyant work. They were first made in Knossos and used only in Knossos. This suggests that they were made for the use of the ruling elite. Sinclair Hood (1971, 1978) thought that at this time, many signs of mainland influences helped develop the new form which was the Ephyrean style. During this late perios, some of the traditions of the pottering world of the Minoan civilization was used for decoration that were transformed into stiff figures. At this stage, the natural and casual look disappeared. (Late Minoan III 1400-1300BC).
From this stage onwards, potters started concentrate more on impresses their patrons, but still, the importance of the Minoan culture was high. The State of preservation was adequate. Because of their method of firing the clay, the potteries were able to stay intact. The positive side of Minoan pottery is that there are uncountable amounts of them with such beauty.
Word count: 1039
Bilbiography
Castleden, Rodney. Minoans Life in Bronze Age Crete. Retrieved: 22nd Feb 08. Great Britain. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data, 1990
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic
http://www.ou.edu/finearts/art/ahi4913/aegeanhtml/minoanpottery1.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minoan_pottery