�@In the seventh century, Cycladic workshops abandoned geometric style and introduced Orientalizing style, which is closer to Athenian style [1]. The Cycladic Ad Group's style is similar to that of early Protoattic pottery and the figures with slender bodies are represented with silhouette, except for the eyes [2]. They did not produce many vases which must made by a single workshop and most of them are amphorae. These vessles were probably made at Paros, though there is no clear evidence.

At Thera, so-called "Liner Island" amphorae, descended from the Wheel Group of Parian Geometric pottery, were produced [3]. Different from Parian examples, it has a taller foot and the lower half of the body is painted with black except for a reserved line. The shoulder has a wider frieze which is divided into panels. The central panel has an animal with outlines and the body decorated with dots and wave patterns.

A near contemporary oinochoe with a spout in the shape of griffin's head from Aigina and now in London (fig.1)[4]. Although the decoration scheme is similar to the "Liner Island" amphorae, it is uncertain at where this vase was made and some believes it was made at Paris.

Fig.1

Taller amphorae were made at Naxos [5]. The Heraldic Group retains Sub-geometric style and the panels on the neck and shoulder have animals with outline technique, though most parts were still represented as silhouette. Occasionally human figures are depicted, with outline technique. On an amphora from Delos (Mykonos Bc19) has a scene that a woman is handing a boeotian shield with gorgoneion and greaves to a man. This scene is probably representing Thetis handing armours to Achilleus.

In the mid seventh century, amphorae influenced by Protoattic Black and White style were made. On the amphora from Naxos has a chariot of Ares and Aphrodite with her name written in Ionian script.

So-called Melian amphorae have similar style, though they were probably made at Paros [6]. Different from other local ware, these amphorae were exported outside Cycladic islands and some are found from North Africa. Except for the typical amphora with a tall neck, conical foot and lid, they also produced smaller amphorae, hydriai and plates.

The characteristics is the combination of volutes and crosshatched squares. As later Athenian lebes gamikoi, they have M-shaped handles on either side and painted eyes below the brow-like handles. Figures are depicted with outline technique with added cream-white and red. On later examples, detail is sometimes depicted with engraved lines.

Mythological scene is commonly depicted, especially deities with chariots driven by winged horses. This style was introduced at the mid seventh century, while most larger amphorae are dated to the later century and some belong to the early sixth century.

Other than these painted vases, large pithoi with relief decoration were also produced [7]. Although these pithoi were made at many islands, such as at Naxos, Paros and Thera, the most important workshops were at Tenos. Earliest relief pithoi with figure decoration belong to the end of the eight century. In the seventh century mythological scenes, such as Trojan Horse, the birth of Athena and Perseus slaying Medusa, are represented. These are important for the study of Greek iconography, since many subjects are first represented on these pithoi in the history of Greek art.

Except for the Melian amphorae, Cycladic pottery was made for local use. In the period of black figure, the production of painted pottey itself was reduced. Some islands produced small numbers of vases copying Chian pottery, though there was no vases worth mentioning.