2.3 Decorative Arts

Question 1

What did the Mycenaeans do before developing their own style?

Answer 1

the imitated the Minoans

Question 2

How was the basic shape made?

Answer 2

on a potters wheel

Question 3

What was added to the basic shape?

Answer 3

patterns then an iron rich slip

Question 4

What colours were the pot often?

Answer 4

shades ranging from red to black

Question 5

What caused the colour of the pottery to vary?

Answer 5

the temperature of the kiln

Question 6

What was the largest storage vessel?

Answer 6

pithoi

Question 7

Height and weight of pithoi

Answer 7

1.5 m high and weighed over 2 tonne

Question 8

What did pithoi often contain?

Answer 8

liquid or food

Question 9

How were the contents of pithoi kept fresh or cool?

Answer 9

could be partially buried in the ground

Question 10

How were pithoi a fire hazard?

Answer 10

they often contained oil

Question 11

How did amphorae differ from pithoi?

Answer 11

much smaller, and had a much narrower neck

Question 12

How were amphorae often decorated?

Answer 12

with geometric patterns or images of nature

Question 13

How did the amphorae develop and why?

Answer 13

the neck and the lower part of the amphorae were painted in line or solid black to focus the eye on the picture

Question 14

What was the most common storage vessel?

Answer 14

stirrup jars

Question 15

What were stirrup jars used to store?

Answer 15

oil or wine

Question 16

What were common decorations in the early Mycenaean age?

Answer 16

double axes, spirals and leaves

Question 17

How did decoration change?

Answer 17

taste changed, so scenes often included chariot racing, bulls or human figures

Question 18

What were kraters used for?

Answer 18

mixing wine and water

Question 19

Description of krater

Answer 19

squat three handles jar made of alabaster

Question 20

Description of kylix

Answer 20

Long stems and two small handles

Question 21

What is the Date of the Gold rhyton?

Answer 21

16th Century BC

Question 22

What is the Original Location of the Gold Rhyton?

Answer 22

Grave Circle A Mycenae

Question 23

What is the current location of the Gold Rhyton?

Answer 23

Nation Archaeological Museum Athens

Question 24

What is the Gold Rhyton made of?

Answer 24

Sheets of gold

Question 25

What is the original purpose of the Gold Rhyton?

Answer 25

container for pouring wine

Question 26

What techniques where used to make the Gold Rhyton?

Answer 26

hammering, granulation and repousse

Question 27

What is the significance of the Gold Rhyton?

Answer 27

shows techniques in metal working

Question 28

Description of the rhyta

Answer 28

roughly cone shaped, many taking the shape of animal heads

Question 29

purpose of rhyta

Answer 29

liquid was designed to fall through a hole at the bottom or the mouth of the animal’s head

Question 30

What did Schliemann originally think the purpose of a rhyta was?

Answer 30

to act as a flower pot

Question 31

What has it been suggested that figurines were used as?

Answer 31

votive offerings to the gods or used in religious prayer

Question 32

What three particular style of human figurines are recognisable?

Answer 32

phi, psi and tau

Question 33

What are the human figurines suggested to represent?

Answer 33

female goddesses as the phi and psi type usually showed women with prominent breasts

Question 34

What animals did the Mycenaeans get their ivory from?

Answer 34

elephants, hippopotami and boars