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. |