Greek Vase Painting

Greek Painted Vases6th Grade Humanities

Pictures on Vases

• One of the most interesting ways to find out about the Greeks is to look at the pictures they made on their pottery.

• The following slides of Greek vases are from the Theoi Greek Mythology website:

www.theoi.com

Zeus with Lightning Bolt

• Zeus aims his lightning bolt at a giant (not shown). An eagle sits perched on his other hand.

Zeus and the Giant Porphyrion

K1.3 ZEUS & THE GIGANTE PORPHYRION

• Details of Zeus battling the Gigante Porphyrion. The God aims his lightning bolt at the giant who holds a shield and rock.

Europa and the Bull

• Zeus, in the guise of a white bull, carries the Phoenician princess Europa across the sea to the island of Krete.

Poseidon with Trident and Rock

• Detail of Poseidon from a painting depicting his battle with the giant Polybotes. The god wields his trident in one hand and the rock of Nisyros in the other.

Death of Niobides

• Apollo and Artemis slay the sons and daughters of the boastful queen Niobe with their arrows. The god wears a wreath of laurel upon his head, and the goddess a sakkos scarf. Both draw bows and wear quivers slung across their shoulders.

Heracles and Apollo Struggle for the Tripod

Heracles and Apollo struggle over the Delphic tripod. Herakles wears his lion-skin cape and is armed with a club. The god Apollon is shown as a youth, with a quiver slung over his shoulder. He grasps the club of Herakles with one hand. Two goddesses stand in support of each. On one side is Athene wearing the snake-trimmed aigis cloak and on the other stands Artemis with a quiver and crown.

Artemis withDeer Chariot

• Detail of Artemis driving a deer-drawn biga (two steed chariot) from a painting depicting the death of Aktaion. The goddess holds a bow in one hand and wears a crown and veil.

Heracles and Kyknos

• Herakles is about to strike down Kyknos, son of Ares, with his sword. The battle is witnessed by the gods Athene, Ares and Zeus. The last, standing in the centre, raises his hand to prevent Ares from interfering. Beside Ares stands the mother of Kyknos.

Hermes, Messenger

• Hermes, messenger of the gods, flies on winged boots. He holds his kerykeion or herald's wand in hand, and wears a petasos (traveller's cap) and chlamys (cloak).

Vocabulary

• Red-Figure PotteryMade in Athens from the late fifth century

onwards. Figures are in red against a dark background.

• Black-Figure PotteryMade in Athens especially in the sixth

century BC. The figures stand out against a reddish background.