Greek Pottery Research Paper

Ever since I was a child, art has played a role in my family. My grandfather being an art teacher intrigued me at a young age and continues to do so. Countless paintings and sculptures are present in my house and they have made me wonder what other art is like, other than my grandfather’s. From my past experiences in art class, I know that pottery is intricate and detailed. However, the actual making and usage of ancient pottery was unfamiliar to me. Throughout my research, I learned that there is a variety of pottery styles known especially from the time of The Odyssey, specific materials and techniques were used in the making of pottery, and the uses of Greek pottery.
During the time of The Odyssey, potters designed their pottery is a particular style. This technique is …show more content…
Clay was the most common material used. As artists created their pottery, they took various steps to achieve their final product. The usage of the potter’s wheel allowed potters to shape their clay and form the bodies and necks of the ceramic. The Greek goddess Athena is known for inventing the potter’s wheel, making the wheel treasured by Greeks (“What’s in a Pot?”). Potters would most commonly assemble the body and the neck of the pot together and later attach other sections once the clay was leather-hard. When clay is in the state of being stiff, but still slightly damp is when the clay is considered leather-hard (“Leather-hard”). Next, the potter would add the foot and the handles of the pottery as a result of the clay being in the correct condition. Depending on the style and composition of the pottery, potters would add mixtures of pigments and clay or glaze to give the pottery color and texture. Lastly, pottery was fired in a kiln in three separate stages to make the art rock-hard and durable (“Athenian Vase Painting: Black-and Red-Figure Techniques”). Potters took many steps to create quality