Greek Geometric amphora

Geometric amphora which belongs to the middle geometric era.

Masterpiece small amphora, typical example of the ceramics of the geometric times.

The term amphora means an oval vessel with a vertical handle on both sides. It was used to store wine and sometimes oil. The name amphora comes from the adverb amphi and the verb carry. Amphoras were invented in ancient Greece and adopted by the Romans as the main means of transport and storage of wine, olive oil, cereals, fish, etc. They were used throughout the Mediterranean and the provinces of the Roman Empire until about the 16th century.

In this particular vase we see geometric shapes warriors and geometric patterns that adorn the clay vase.

The ideal type of warrior-hero, the driver and the horse, were symbols of social and political power

Geometric art is the art that developed from the 11th to the 8th century BC, ie during the geometric era. It is called geometric from the geometric patterns that adorn the clay vessels.

Also geometric are the figures of people and animals, whether they are painted on vases or they are clay or bronze figurines.

The vessels of the geometric art were initially decorated with wavy lines and spirals that were hand-painted on the surface of the vessels.

These wavy lines later gave way to uniform circles and semicircles painted with great precision and with the help of diabetes.

Later, they depicted rows of uniform animals, representations of death that, along with geometric jewelry, adorn the larger vessels used as burial marks.

Microplasty is dominated by the ideal type of hero-warrior, the driver and the horse, symbols of social and political power.

The works, quite unskilled at first, are characterized by austerity, austerity, tectonics, formality and clear outlines.

Over time, the evolution of art results in the rendering of the quality of forms and often the distinction of different styles and workshops with special characteristics each (Corinthian, Argeian, Laconic, Attic, etc.).

An example is the horse figurines, which are usually depicted on perforated or solid bases and are usually found as tributes of pilgrims to the sanctuaries of the time.

Particularly interesting compositions make their appearance timid, such as figures in a circle dance, animal complexes, etc.