Minoan

Fired pottery first appeared in Crete in the Neolithic Age, showing forms similar to those found in mainland Turkey. Distinctively Minoan styles appeared in the Early Bronze Age, notably Aghios Onoufrios Ware, Pyrgos Ware, and Vasi-liki Ware, all named for the areas in Crete where they were first discovered. Aghios Onoufrios Ware had rounded shapes of light clay decorated with dark paint in linear designs. Pyrgos Ware came in clays of gray, light brown, or even red. Rather than having painted decoration, Pyrgos items were decorated with incised lines. By far the most interesting style from early Crete is the Vasiliki style (see Image 9.27). Jugs and "nose-heavy" teapots in this style are covered with a mottled pattern of oranges and browns. To date, archaeologists are not sure how the Minoan potters achieved this decoration.

9.27 Vasiliki Ware (Kathleen Cohen/Herakleion Archaeological Museum)

In the Middle Bronze Age, a new style appeared in Crete, called Ka-mares Ware. Technological advances in the potter's wheel around this time allowed for much thinner pottery walls, leading to the term Eggshell Ware for this style. Decoration consisted of a dark paint applied to the entire surface of the item, which was then decorated with orange, red, and white paint in a variety of floral and geometric patterns. In some more elaborate instances, three-dimensional appliques were added, giving an appearance that can only be described as tacky (see Image 9.28).

Two styles appearing in the Late Bronze Age represent, in this author's opinion, the apex of Minoan pottery.

The earlier of these is called the Marine style, as the primary decorative motif is sea life, including octopi, seashells, nautili, and sea plants (see Image 9.29). These watery compositions were asymmetrical yet perfectly balanced, with compositions appropriate for whatever surface area needed to be covered, from stirrup

Jars for transporting oils to rhyta—ancient Minoan funnels. Following on the fins of the Marine style was the Floral style, in which vegetal motifs replaced marine ones (see Image 9.30). The Mi-noan love of naturalism was maintained in this style, including the use of asymmetry without ever sacrificing balance or grace. After 1450 b. c.e., the Myce-naeans adopted both the Marine and Floral styles, although with considerably less aesthetic success.

9.28 Kamares Ware (Borromeo/Art Resource)