Vases In Ancient Greek Art

How can one learn about the world of an ancient society? Art from the ancient worlds have been analyzed to mark different periods in time, artistic styles, and the changing cultural context within the art works. To learn about the Ancient Greeks, sculptures as well as pottery, among other things, from their time have often been studied. Some examples of Ancient Greek pottery are vases, such as the amphora and column-kraters (Figures A, B, C). Ancient Greek pottery, vases in this case, can be used to learn about their changing artistic styles and cultural values. One of the artistic styles that the Ancient Greeks experimented with and developed using the vases is the Geometric Style. Figure A, the “Terracotta Panathenaic …show more content…
There are certain principles within the Geometric Style that have continuously been used in Greek art: symmetry and balance. Images on geometric vases consisted of divided scenes, clearly drawn defining lines, and echoing motifs and figures, …show more content…
The tale that Figure B depicts is of Hephaistos, the divine smith’s, return to Mount Olympus, the home of the gods. He is also the one who trapped his mother, Hera, to a throne, which he created to seek his revenge against her for abandoning him. Thus, Dionysos, the wine god, got Hephaistos drunk and brought him to Olympus to free Hera since only he had the power to do so.4 The krater symbolizes the symposium or drinking party and the images represent the opposing aristocratic power groupings in the Archaic world and such representations of the krater can also be found in Homer’s epic poems.5 The narrative scene in Figure B suggests that the Greeks had a cultural value in drinking and socializing, but were also aware of the constant struggle to overtake others in power and wealth within their