Greek houses were filled with painted pottery of many different shapes and sizes; dinner plates, wine cups, pitchers, storage jars, oil flasks, perfume jars. We can learn about life and customs from the painted scenes on Greek pottery because thousands have survived and many are intact as they were buried with their owners. Ancient painted pottery, like ceramics today, varies widely from the very modest to the most refined. At the highest level of production and craftmanship, ceramic artists displayed the finest achievements of Greek drawing and painting. Some painters and potters proudly signed their work, unlike most other Greek artisans who remained anonymous. The very best pieces were given as awards to victorious athletes, as gifts to friends, and offerings to the dead.

Painted pottery was so popular that it was actively traded across the Mediterranean. The appearance of regional styles at many settlements, such as those in Central and Southern Italy and the Near East, attests to contact between diverse communities.

The earliest pottery in this gallery, an 8th century amphora seen here, was decorated with spare geometric designs accentuating the structure of the vessel. "Black-figure" painting, seen on the item in the upper right of the display, was popular in 6th century B.C. Athens and was used by artists to tell the adventures of their many gods. Toward the end of the 6th century, Greek art shifted away from the world of myth and began to explore the world of the individual and of everyday life. In this period "red-figure" painting was invented and more complicated scenes were developed.

5th century B.C.,
Worcester Art Museum, Worcester, MA, 12/01/19