List of shapes, types and variants of ancient Greek fine and utility ceramics

Ceramics of various shapes and styles as grave goods in a children's grave in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens

Corinthian pottery of various shapes and types in the Museum of Corinth

The list of shapes, types and variants of ancient Greek fine and utility ceramics arranges the various shapes, types and variants of ceramics of ancient Greece . No distinction is made between fine and coarse ceramics, but ceramic products such as terracottas (sculptures, building ceramics, tanage figures, etc.) are dispensed with.

A distinction is made in research into ancient ceramics according to vessel shape and decoration. Usually changes in decoration and ceramic shape go hand in hand. There are several different types of typology, some of which overlap. One possibility of subdivision is, for example, the division according to the shape into amphorae, jugs, hydrates, craters and kettles, drinking vessels as well as oil and ointment vessels. Another possibility is the arrangement after use in storage vessels, mixing vessels, scoop and pouring vessels, cult vessels, drinking vessels, ointment and other vessels. A further division is made into closed and open forms.

First, the basic forms of Greek ceramics are shown in a first list. This is followed by several lists in which types and variants of some forms are shown which were particularly varied or in which special typologies had developed.

For the geometric and orientalizing period, an attempt is made to give a representative cross-section of the various forms and local styles. Especially for the Attic art of the archaic and classical times, the time of the black-figure and red-figure styles , there is a finely graduated typology that is reproduced as precisely as possible.

to form

Vase shape use comment Redrawing example Alabastron (Αλάβαστρον) Closed perfume and ointment vessel used by women, the male form was the aryballos Americans urinal Amphora (Αμφορεύς) Closed storage and transport container Amphoriskos Closed oil and ointment vessel small amphora Aryballos (Αρύβαλλος) Closed oil and ointment vessel Askos (Ασκός) Closed oil and ointment vessel also as a plastic vessel shape Balsamarion Closed oil and ointment vessel Batanion Open cooking vessel also Patanion, documented by Athenaios , an exact assignment is unclear today cups Open simple drinking vessel rarely made of clay Bolsal Open simple drinking vessel Shape of the bowl, deep, on a low ring base with thin, horizontal stick handles and a flat, unprofiled base ring Ironing jug Closed pouring vessel No longer in use in archaic and classical times Chytra Open cooking vessel Dinosaurs Open mixing vessel Shape of the crater, in ancient times the term referred to a drinking vessel that can no longer be identified today. The name dinosaurs is actually wrong. Epichysis (Επίχυσις) Closed oil and ointment jar or container Epinetron Knee protection Tools for wool processing Eschara Open cooking and cult vessel Exaleiptron Closed oil and ointment vessel sometimes referred to as kothon in literature, sometimes equated with the plemochoe Fish plate Open independent shape of the plate Bottle Closed oil and ointment vessel bottle Closed storage and transport container Granary Closed storage and transport container Pouring cup Open watering vessel Guttus Closed oil and ointment vessel also as a plastic vessel shape Hydria Closed transport container Kados (Κάδος) Closed transport container Kakkabe Open cooking vessel only documented in writing Kalathos (Κάλαθος) Open storage vessel Modeled on wicker baskets, for storing wool, smaller shapes probably also as drinking vessels Calyx Open drinking vessel comparatively rarely produced goblet shape, also called goblet . English chalice Kantharos (Κάνθαρος) Open drinking vessel Kernos (Κέρνος) Open cult vessel rarely made of clay box Storage container rarely made of clay Klibanos Open cooking vessel only documented in writing Kothon (Κώθων) Open drinking vessel the assignment is unclear, sometimes a vessel on a tripod, similar to the exaleiptron and the plemochoe, is called this way Crater (Κρατήρ) Open mixing vessel Kyathos Open scoop Lagynos (Λάγυνος) Closed pouring vessel Lakaina Open drinking vessel Lebes (Λέβης) see dinos Lebes Gamikos (Λέβης γαμικός) Open cult vessel for the water at weddings and the washing of the dead Lekane (Λεκάνη) Open bowl Lekanis Open bowl with lid Lekythos (Λήκυθος) Closed oil and ointment vessel Lopas Open cooking vessel Luterion Open bowl Loutrophoros (Λουτροφόρος) Closed cult vessel Lydion (Λύδιον) Closed oil and ointment vessel mastoid Open drinking vessel plastic vessel close to the shape of a female breast Mastos Open drinking vessel plastic vessel in the form of a female breast mortar mortar Nestoris (Νεστορίς) Closed cult vessel invented in southern Italy, as Trozella referred Oinochoe (Οινοχόη) Closed pouring vessel Olla Closed storage vessel Olpe Closed pouring vessel Onos Foot stand sometimes incorrectly used as a name for the epinetron Oon (Ωόν) Egg shaped vessel Patera Open cult vessel Pelike (Πελίκη) Closed storage vessel Perirrhanterion Open pool almost always made of stone Phiale (Φιάλη) Open cult vessel also omphalos cup Phormiscus (Φορμίσκος) Closed cult vessel rattle Pinax Votive tablet also Pinakion (Πινάκιον) Pithos (Πίθος) Closed storage container large vessel, similar to an amphora plate Votive tablet Plastic vessels Open and closed for different purposes, depending on the assignment Plastic vessels can be found in several ceramic forms, such as Aryballoi, Guttoi, Kantharoi, Lekythoi, Mastoi, Rhyton and drinking horn Plemochoe (Πλημοχόη) Closed donation tube Attribution controversial. Sometimes equated with the Exaleiptron Podanipter Open washing vessel Washing vessel for washing feet, mostly made of bronze Psykter (Ψυκτήρ) (Φιάλη) Closed mixing vessel Pyxis (Πυξίς) Closed container Rhyton Closed drinking vessel plastic vessel shape Suction cup Closed pouring vessel Bowl Open drinking vessel Creator Open form bowl Open storage container Sieve vase both as open and closed form Situla Open transport container Bucket-like vessel Skyphos (Σκύφος) Open drinking vessel also kotyle (Κοτύλη) Stamnos (Στάμνος) Open mixing vessel Stand Stands were needed and used for several forms, especially the dinosaurs (lebes) Stelon Open cooking vessel only documented in writing Cup Open drinking vessel Teganon (Τεγανον) Open cooking vessel also Tegenon and Peganon , only documented in writing Plate Open dinnerware Thymiaterion Open incense burner Clay lamp Light dispenser sometimes lamps were turned like vases on a potter's wheel funnel Transfer aid Tripous (tripod) is modeled on the tripod, often used as a stand Trozella see Nestoris urn Closed cult vessel Burial vessel for human remains

Types and variants

Alabastron

Type variant comment Redrawing example late Helladic alabastron Corinthian alabastron Attic alabastron often painted in the white-ground style

Amphorae

Type variant comment Redrawing example Abdominal amphora Abdominal amphora type A Abdominal amphora type B Abdominal amphora type C Horse head amphora is mainly defined by the painting Pelike is also considered an independent vase shape Neck amphora Belly handle amphora Neck handle amphora Shoulder handle amphora Panathenaic amphora (early form) Panathenaic amphora (late form) Nolan amphora Nicosthenian amphora Tyrrhenian amphora Cord handle amphora Pointed amphora Lower Italian amphora Hellenistic neck amphora Transport amphora Loutrophoros in the amphora variant; is also considered an independent vase shape; is also available in a second variant as Hydria-Loutrophore Amphoriskos is also considered an independent vase shape Pithos is also considered an independent vase shape

Aryballos

Type variant comment Redrawing example Spherical aaryballos Spitzaryballos Plastic aryballoi Figural aryballos There are almost limitless variations, from individual body parts such as legs or feet to animals Head aaryballos

Askos

Type variant comment Redrawing example Simple askos Multiple asos There are usually multiple ascoi with two to four spouts Plastic askos Plastic Askoi came in various forms, mostly as animals

Exaleiptron

Type variant comment Redrawing example Normal form Tripod shape Handle shape

Hydrates

Type variant comment Redrawing example Hydria Shoulder hydria the transitions, especially the neck, are more distinct than in the Kalpis, the shoulder hyydria was mainly used as a support in black-figure vase painting Kalpis the transitions between the individual parts of the vase are smoother than in the normal hydria, and kalpids were mainly used as image carriers in red-figure vase painting Loutrophoros in the hydriene variant; is also considered an independent vase shape; there is also a second variant as an amphora-loutrophore

Chytras

Type variant comment Redrawing example Type 1a Type 1a1 Type 1b Type 1c Type 1d Type 1e

Kettles, craters, mixing vessels

Type variant comment Redrawing example Late Helladic crater based on the shape of an amphora Geometric crater was used as a burial vessel Late geometric bow handle crater Colonette Crater also bar handle craters Corinthian Colonette Crater Attic Colonette Crater Chalcidian crater also bow handle craters Bell crater Calyx crater Volute crater Invented in Laconia . This is why it was referred to as the lakonikos crater in ancient Greece . Taken over by Attic potters, later also production in southern Italy Attic volute crater Lower Italian volute crater Skyphos crater Krateriskos Dinos ( Lebes ) Dinos pool Dinos stand

Live gamikos

Type variant comment Redrawing example Lebes Gamikos (Type 1) Lebes Gamikos (Type 2)

Lekanai

Type variant comment Redrawing example Lekane in the form of a deep bowl Lekane, flat bowl shape (type 1) Lekane, flat bowl shape (type 2) Boeotian Lekane Lekane, flat bowl shape (type 3) Lekane in the form of a deep bowl with a handle Apulian lekane ("patera", also "button handle shell") with horizontal handles

Lekyths

Type variant comment Redrawing example Abdominal lecthosis 5th century BC Chr. 4th century BC Chr. Deianeiralekythos Eichellekythos Pipe Head Lekythos Shoulder Lekythos also secondary lekythos Cylinder leythos also standard leythos Black-figure Red-figure White ground Footless lekythos Boeotic Lekythos

Loutrophores

Type variant comment Redrawing example Attic loutrophores Hydrogen form Protoattic Amphora shape Protoattic Hydrogen form before standardization Amphora shape before standardization Hydrogen form Standard shape Amphora shape Standard shape Apulian loutrophores Type I, variant I. Egg-shaped with volute handles Type I, variant II Egg-shaped with straight handles Type II, variant I cylindrical shape with volute handles Type II, variant II cylindrical shape without handle

Pitchers

Type variant comment Redrawing example Epichysis Lagynos Splash can Oinochoe Minoan oinochoe Attic-geometric oinochoe Attic-Late Geometric oinochoe Attic-Late Geometric oinochoe Orientalizing oinochoe Corinthian oinochoe Late Corinthian oinochoe Attic type 1 Attic type 2 Attic type 3: Chus (Chous) (Χους) Choosen Attic type 4 Attic type 5a Attic type 5b Attic type 6 Attic type 7 Attic type 8a Attic type 8b Attic type 8c Attic type 9 Only one figuratively painted vase of this type is known to date Attic type 10 Head inochoe Figurative oinochoe Olpe Attic Olpe Corinthian olpe

Pinakes

Type variant comment Redrawing example Grabpinax Grabpinax series So far only two such series by the potter Exekias are known. Large votive pinax Small votive pinax

Pyxides

Type variant comment Redrawing example Horse pyxis Round pyxis Square pyxis Broad Attic-geometric pyxis Handle pyxis Handle pyxis on a high foot Ball pyxis Pointed Pyxis Corinthian pyxis Attic pyxis Type a Type B Type c Type D Nicosthenic pyxis Developed in the workshop of the potter Nikosthenes Tripod pyxis Double pyxis

Peel

Type variant comment Redrawing example Mycenaean high foot bowl Late Helladic-Rhodian bowl Protoattic high foot shell Eastern Greek bird shells Boiotian bird bowl with stand Boiotian bird shells Boeotic bowl Corinthian bowl Laconic bowl Vroulia bowl Attic-geometric shells Attic shells ( kylikes ) (Κύλιξ) Comast bowl first type of shell that was developed in Attika Double decker siana bowl The difference to the kink frieze variant is the painting. Knickfries- Siana Cup The difference to the double-decker variant lies in the painting. Gordion bowl Small master cup or predecessor of the small master cup Droop shell Small master cup or predecessor of the small master cup Kassel bowl Small master cup or predecessor of the small master cup Rim shell Small master's cup Ribbon shell Small master's cup Chalcidizing shell Button handle shell Kylix Type A: eye cup Kylix type B Kylix type C Footless shell Shell Skyphus Mixed form of skyphos and bowl

Skyphoi

Type variant comment Redrawing example Late Helladic Skyphos Geometric skyphos Kabirenskyphus Lower Italian Skyphos Corinthian Skyphoi 8th century BC Chr. 7th century BC Chr. 5th century BC Chr. Attic Skyphoi Protoattic Skyphos Skyphos crater Shell Skyphus Mixed form of skyphos and bowl Standard type A Standard type B Heron-type skyphos Saint-Valentin type skyphos Hermogenic Skyphos Developed in the workshop of the potter Hermogenes Band skyphos Mixture of skyphos and ribbon bowl

Plastic / figurative vessels

Type variant comment Redrawing example Figural aryballos Plastic askos Plastic Askoi came in various forms, mostly as animals Head mug Figurative guttus Head- Kantharos Acorn Lekythos Mastos Plastic oinochoe Head inochoe Figurative oinochoe Rhyton Plastic thymiaterion Open incense burner Drinking horn

Special shapes

Vase shape use comment Redrawing example Astragalus Token if similar cubes were used, bones are modeled on them ball idol Freely designed figurative (religious) work of art child seat Children's chair and chamber pot Clazomenic sarcophagi Clepsydra Timepiece Larnax sarcophagus Kitchen sink The shape is reminiscent of a coil or a yo-yo, but the use is unknown; possibly top of a spindle Clay pipe pipe Clay pipes were used for the sewer system, sometimes also as grave containers Loom weight Loom weight cube Token were used like modern game dice

See also

• List of Greek potters and vase painters

literature

• Wolfgang Schiering : The Greek clay pots. Shape, purpose and change of form (= Gebr.-Mann-Studio-series ). 2nd, significantly changed and expanded edition. Mann, Berlin 1983, ISBN 3-7861-1325-4 .

Web links

Commons : Shapes of Greek Vases  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files

• Beazley Archive : Shapes - introduction (English)
• Beazley Archive: Classical Art Research Center Pottery Search - Search by Shape (English)
• Vase shapes on the website of the University of Giessen
• Forms of Greek vases

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Ingeborg Scheibler : Vessels / Vessel Shape Types. In: The New Pauly (DNP). Volume 4, Metzler, Stuttgart 1998, ISBN 3-476-01474-6 , Sp. 853-858.
2. ↑ Andrea Gorys : Dictionary Archeology (= dtv 32504). Deutscher Taschenbuch-Verlag, Munich 1997, ISBN 3-423-32504-6 , p. 509.

This version was added to the selection of informative lists and portals on July 6, 2008 .