Mycenaean Pottery

By 1450 BC, a group of Greeks, known as the Mycenaean people, had established themselves in the region from Thessaly to southern Peloponnesus. They were feared and respected by neighboring countries because of their aggressive nature and dominating power. However, the Mycenaean people were artistic, and they had a vivid culture. There were many different crafts, including metal working and architecture, but perhaps the most important was pottery.

Mycenaean potters were greatly inspired by the Minoan and west Asian styles. The designs varied from geometric lines and patterns to battle scenes and imaginary beasts. The background of their pottery was light tan and the design was painted on in black, or sometimes red, paint. Occasionally potters were hired by the king and had their workshops on the acropolis, where the vases, pitchers and pots they produced went out to be traded or given as pay to other craftsmen.

In c. 1200 BC, Dorian invaders came in and sacked Mycenae, causing the thriving civilization to end. The town was forgotten, and was believed just to be a legend from Homers Iliad. But, in 1870, an archeologist named Heinrich Schliemann discovered the city. Because the pottery styles were constantly changing and developing, archeologists have a reliable way to date Mycenaean periods chronologically. Thanks to their pottery, we can learn a lot more about the Mycenaean people.

-Grayce, Charleston