World Ceramics: How was it used?

Several types of UTILITARIAN vessels (those used for eating, cooking, and storage) were made in ancient Greece. The hydria was used to carry water from a fountain shared by many families. The side handles were used to lift it onto a woman's head for carrying, and the vertical handle at the back was used for pouring or for carrying it when empty. Even though this vessel was made to be functional, great attention was given to its design and decoration. The elegant shape and elaborate decoration tell us that the Greeks placed a high value on beauty: even utilitarian vessels had to be beautiful.


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