Vase Vessels In Ancient Greece

One of the most well-known cultures throughout all of history belonged to the Greeks. Their heritage was so highly valued that it lived on even after they no longer ruled. The Greeks were some of the most innovative artists of their time and their work was so inherently beautiful that people from future cultures fell in love with it and decided to incorporate it into their own customs. The most famous group known for this was the Romans. After the Romans took over Greece, their love for its customs bloomed which resulted in many recreations of Greek art that are now seen today. However, Greek sculpture art had a hard time making it to the modern day. Most sculptures were made out of bronze and often melted down to be used for other purposes. Any surviving Greek related art is often just a Roman copy. The Romans are famous throughout history for their copies of Greek sculptures, especially relief sculptures. However, they also incorporated other Greek traditions and customs into their lives as well. Romans created separate names to refer to Greek gods and were often found creating and recreating art based on Greek myths. One specific Greek custom adopted by the Romans was the way in which they buried their dead. Romans originally cremated their dead but after the influence of Greek culture, they began burying their dead in large sarcophagi, with Greek myths elaborately sculpted into the sides, similar to the one kept at the Walter 's Art Museum depicting the abduction of

Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece both believed in life after death, though the process in which they follow that belief differ greatly. The Greeks believed that at the moment of death the spirit leaves the body in the form of a little gust of wind or a puff of breath. The Greeks believed in proper burial rights that were performed in three parts, and the relatives mostly women are the ones that conduct these rituals for the deceased. Much like the modern world these rituals consist of the first step; laying out the body to be dressed, the second funeral procession, and the third step was the cremation of the body. Unlike the Greeks the Egyptians developed a process in which they prepared and preserved the dead for the afterlife, known as mummification. This process is believed to have been the purpose of the Egyptians famous pyramids, believed to be the stairs that would lead the Pharaohs to their kingdom in the afterlife. Artifacts are buried in their tombs such as gold, wine, and sculptures to accompany the dead in life after death.

The ancient Greeks were known for many reasons; developing and creating a democracy, scientific and philosophic thought, and their humanistic point of view. The Greeks had a combination of beliefs and “cults of gods and goddesses.” Although they did not have any prophets or scriptures, many Greeks created a place for their religious emotions in “the sacred ceremonies of mystic cults.” Unlike other civilizations, the Greeks did not have a formal priest that lead religious or political content. In place of a formal priest, their religious rituals were directed by citizens that were selected to perform as priests. As a part of their belief system, they attempted to satisfy the gods and asked oracles to “divine the future” through prayers, offerings, and ritual purification. The view of after death differed from Mesopotamians and Egyptians. Their view of after death was the belief that if the person was ran by their own physical aspirations, “the soul would be liberated after death.”

In the ancient Greek world, religion was personal, direct, and present in its citizens’ daily lives. During this time, they participated in animal sacrifices and offerings, created myths to explain the beginning of the human race and gave reverence to their gods by building temples which controlled the urban landscape. They also participated in local festivals and sporting and artistic competitions. Religion was never out of the presence of ancient Greece’s citizens. While they may have made up their own mind on the terms of their religious beliefs, some may have been completely confused if these gods actually existed. There were certain fundamental beliefs that must have been sufficiently widespread, in order for the Greek government to function. In ancient Greece, gods existed, they influenced human concerns, and they welcomed and responded to acts of godliness and worship.

Pottery can not only tell us about the past, but it can also tell us about people’s beliefs and what people did in the past. Pottery was used for many purposes. It was made in many different shapes and sizes. Some pieces of pottery had unique pictures and designs on them. The pictures and designs expressed different types of things that went on in the daily lives of ancient Greeks. Music and entertainment, religious beliefs, death and burial traditions are a few aspects of Greek life that are pictured on many different types of ancient Greek pottery.

Most of the evidence that is used today are from vases, which can tell a lot about what happened back in ancient Greece. Scenes are played out on vases, with most being Dionysian or mythological narratives. Painters avoided representing tragic scenes literally as they would be portrayed in the theater, but instead a ‘further reality’ of the myth. Even minute details about this evidence was important, including the shape of the pots the work was on. Mythic-tragic scenes could be found on large, prestigious vessels like volute kraters, while a comic scene might decorate a bell krater or small jug (oinochoe) which served wine at a drinking party (Hughes 5). Vases are not the only archeological evidence, as terracotta figurines are another source of knowledge for those wanting to learn about the costumes worn in comedy in ancient Greece. Nearing the end of the fifth century, the earliest comedy figurines were produced in Athens. These figurines were mostly static, unlike vase paintings were the scene was full of action and engagement. These terracotta figurines were souvenirs for the people to buy in admiration of their favorite characters. People cherished them and even took them to their graves, where they were found by archeologists (Hughes 39).

In Ancient China a heavy emphasis was placed on the proper treatment of the dead and there are several detailed burial practices that define the death culture. In Ancient China people believed that life did not end in death, and that the dead would go into the afterlife doing the same things they did while alive. Because of this belief, tombs were outfitted in all the necessities that the dead would need for the afterlife. Objects placed in the tombs could range from personal objects to weapons. Flutes and other instruments were placed in tombs for the dead to play music as a form of entertainment. Weapons were exquisitely decorated and served more of a symbolic display of power rather than for function. Another part of ancient Chinese death

The piece of artwork that I am standing by is a vase crafted by the Greeks around the early classical period of Ancient Greece. This vase is an example of the famous technique called red-figured pottery, with this technique the figures and images that resemble people and objects are a red-orange color and these figures float in a black background. In order for this technique to work the Greeks had to paint the whole pot in slip, then once the slip was leather hard they would carefully carve out the figures and designs with special tools and needles to get the effect and depth they wanted. Once the images are all carved out they would then fire the pot in a kiln, they had to do this in a specific way so the slip that was still surrounding the pottery would

Consider a 50 year old vase. It is obvious that it was beautiful. Age has taken its toll. The vase’s color has faded. The vase’s top is chipped. It appears that someone dropped the vase. It appears that someone glued part of the vase back on. Many people now see it as an old piece of junk. It’s broken. I am broken. The word “broken” has negative implications. I am proud to be a broken person. Brokenness suggests imperfection. I am not anywhere close to society’s idea of perfection. I am not anywhere close to my own idea of perfection. I am willing to admit that I can be rude. I am willing to admit that I can be pugnacious. I am willing to admit that I can be sarcastic. I am even willing to admit that I can be bitter. That’s simply who I am.

Throughout the course of time, different civilizations across the world hold one thing in common by which a society or culture can be based upon or help influence the structure. The one common thing that has help a civilization grow throughout the period of time would be the formation of a religion. Religion is a center point for many societies throughout history. As the center for the different civilizations, it helped form their different traditions and customs. The same could be said about the people of ancient Greece, where religion or mythology played an important role in their lives as it was the pedestal of their culture and how they base their lives upon. The formation of a religion across the large number of regions of Greece, help the different locations mold themselves by the customs that were created from the adaptation. During what was known as Ancient Greece, the people would hear tales of the twelve Olympians and how their actions influence the world around them. Within this period of time for the people of Greece was that of growth, as they sought to bring new ideas into light as they exited from a dark period within their own history.

As civilization has progressed through the ages, many religions have arisen and taken hold around the world, two if the most interesting, being the religious beliefs of the ancient Mesopotamian and the Greeks. These two religions were practiced in different areas and at different times and, therefore, show that religion has played a critical role in every society and civilization. No matter how it is organized or what type of god is worshiped, a society would be nothing without some kind of deity to organize it. In comparing the religious beliefs of the Mesopotamian and the Ancient Greeks religious components highlighted including the style of worship, the temples

In the early days of the post-Aegean civilization, Ancient Greek pottery was often decorated with various geometries, so this period was called the "geometric-style period". At that time, the pottery often has multiple pens painted parallel lines, wavy lines and concentric circles of various patterns, with the passage of time and gradually added to the animals and birds and characters images.

Many ancient greeks believed in the 12 major olympian gods and goddesses.they believed that had control over every part their lives the ancient greeks believed they had to pray to the gods for help and protection, because if the gods were unhappy with someone they would punish them.their daily life was praying to these gods and worshiping them, they had temples and special places in their home.

Guest will view an arrangement of lead figurines from Archaic Sparta based on their beliefs like a winged goddess and potteries that are decorated with Spartan soldiers, horses, or gods. There will be several models displayed of Athens city-state architecture that will be compared to modern government buildings today; the displays will also show the strong walls that encircled ancient Athens. Interactive replica artifacts will be available such as the stone kleroterion, used in Athens to randomly select a jury for a trial and to select legislative committees. “According to the Greeks’ religion, the gods played an active role in the life of humans. Festivals, rituals, sacrifices, and prayer were designed to honor the gods” (William 83). Guests will be tested on their knowledge of the tour and the gods, and if they answer incorrectly the gods will punish them. The work of writer, Hesiod who is known to have written down the oral legends about Greek gods will be translated for all to read (William 8). Lastly, there will be an opportunity for all to take a memorable picture with the original

For centuries, men have used ceramics in about everything. One can find usage of ceramic for structures (bricks, floor and roof tiles…), decorations, mechanical and electrical properties and so on. In fact, ceramics is one of the most ancient industries on the planet. Once humans discovered that clay could be dug up and formed into objects by first mixing with water and then firing, the industry was born. Archeologists have found evidence of primitive ceramic manufacture dating back to around 24,000 B.C. These ceramics were found in Czechoslovakia and were in the form of animal and human figurines made from clay and other materials, and then fired in kilns (type of ovens) partially dug into the ground.