2 - 1 - 2 Early East Greek Pottery


@After Corinthian workshop introduced Orientalizing style, East Greek workshops followed this new style earlier than Attic and other regions in the second quarter of the seventh century [1]. Although some geometric patterns retained on the earlier examples, orientalizing patterns such as a cable pattern were gradually introduced. The most typical decoration is the frieze of animals, such as wild goats, deer and waterbirds, as well as monsters such as sphinxes.

While Corinthian workshops invented black figure technique, East Greek painters drew figures with outline, which made their figures more lively. Figures in this period, however, still retain silhouette of geometric style except for the heads. It is also noticeable that less filling ornaments are depicted than later wild goat style pottery.

Some Ionian workshops introduced outline technique and painted the figures with white [2]. This technique was rarely used by followers. Most common shape is oinochoe with stout body and straight lip. They also painted on amphorae.

This style developed into wild goat style in the later half of the seventh century and retained until the sixth century. The workshops were attributed to Rhodes, since first known vessels are found from there [3]. Recent clay analysis revealed that these were not produced at Rhedes, but at South and North Ionia and Aiolis.

[1] For early East Greek orientalizing style, see, Cook,R.M., East Greek Pottery (1997)pp.29-31.
[2] Vases from Smyrna, see, E.Akurgal Alt-Smyrna 1 (1983) pl.109a.
[3] Schiering,W. WerkstŠtten orientalisierender Keramik auf Rhodos (1957) and Kardara,Ch. Rodiaki Angeiographia (1963) attributed them to Rhodes.