Description of archaeological pottery findings in Cyprus
The pottery of ancient Cyprus starts during the
Neolithic period.
Throughout the ages, Cypriot ceramics demonstrate many connections with cultures from around the Mediterranean.
During the Early and Middle Bronze Ages, it is especially imaginative in shape and decoration. There are also many early terracotta figurines that were produced depicting female figures.
The typo-chronology of Cypriot pottery for the Iron Age was established by
Einar Gjerstad based on material excavated by the
Swedish Cyprus Expedition. Gjerstad divided the Iron Age into three periods, the Cypro-Geometric (1050-750 BC), the Cypro-Archaic (750-480 BC) and the Cypro-Classical (480-310 BC), which are in turn subdivided, the CG I-III, the CA I-II and the CC I-II, each period corresponds to one pottery Type, with a total of seven, Types I-VII. The exact dates of the chronology of Gjerstad have been slightly revised following more current research. The typochronology is explained in his main work Swedish Cyprus Expedition IV, 2. The Cypro-geometric, Cypro-archaic and Cypro-classical Periods (1948)[1] with further remarks made in the article Pottery Types, Cypro-Geometric to Cypro-Classical (1960).[2]
Neolithic Age
The earliest widely used ceramics during the 5th millennium BC are of the
Dark Faced Burnished Ware type.[3]
This ceramic technique was followed by the following techniques:
During the
Iron Age the pottery was "colorful and often elaborately painted with geometric or figural motifs. Intricate '
Free-field' compositions graced
juglets and jars. Ubiquitous concentric circles were applied to jars, juglets, bowls and kraters using multiple brushes. Finer wares like plates, bowls and jugs were made on the fast wheel, while larger forms like amphoras, amphoroid kraters and
pithoi were built with a combination of techniques: wheel throwing, hand coiling or molding."[8]
Cypro-Geometric I
During the period 1050-950 BC, characteristic pottery were[9]
Black on Red II Ware, 750-600BC Museum of Cycladic Art at Athens, Greece
Cypro-Archaic I:
Amphora (750–600 B.C.) Metropolitan Museum of Art
Cypro-Archaic II
During the period 600-480 BC, characteristic pottery were[9]
White Painted V Ware
Bichrome V
Plain White V
Black Slip V
Red Slip III
Black on Red III
Bichrome Red II
"White-painted V" Ware: vessel shaped like an animal; between 1900 and 1650 BC.
Antikensammlung Kiel
Amphora fragment with
Hathoric stele, Cypro-Archaic II (7th–5th century BC).
Louvre
Cypro-Classical I
During the period 480-400 BC, characteristic pottery were[9]
White Painted VI Ware
Bichrome VI
Plain White VI
Black Slip VI
Red Slip IV
Black on Red IV
Bichrome Red III
Black & Grey Lustrous I
Stroke Polished I
Bichrome Red III Ware ; (600-480 BC); Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Cypro-Classical II
During the period 400-310 BC, characteristic pottery were[9]
White Painted VII Ware
Bichrome VII
Plain White VII
Red Slip V
Black on Red V
Black & Grey Lustrous II
Stroke Polished II
"Cypro-Classical II" Ware: Vase with moulded ridges about neck, of unpainted clay (480–310 B.C.)
Metropolitan Museum of Art
References
^Gjerstad, Einar (1948). Swedish Cyprus Expedition IV, 2. The Cypro-geometric, Cypro-archaic and Cypro-classical Periods. Stockholm: Swedish Cyprus Expedition.
^Gjerstad, Einar (1960). "Pottery Types, Cypro-Geometric to Cypro-Classical". Opuscula Atheniensia. 7 (7): 105–122.
^Joanne Clarke. Insularity and identity in prehistoric Cyprus, in : Le néolithique de Chypre: actes du colloque international organisé par le Département des antiquités de Chypre et l'École française d'Athènes, Nicosie, 17–19 mai 2001. École Française d’Athènes, Athens.
^Flourentzos, P. (1996). A Guide to the Larnaca District Museum. Ministry of Communications and Works - Department of Antiquities. p. 6.
ISBN978-9963-36-425-1. by P. Flourentzos, author and Curator of Archaeological Museums and Surveys in Cyprus.
^Stewart, J.R., Dikaios, P. (1972). "Part 1A". The Swedish Cyprus Expedition:The Stone Age and The Early Bronze Age in Cyprus. Vol. IV. Lund. p. 202.{{
cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
^
abFlourentzos, P. (1996). A Guide to the Larnaca District Museum. Ministry of Communications and Works - Department of Antiquities. p. 21.
ISBN978-9963-36-425-1.