• The Greek amphora was designed thousands of years ago.ancient greek ornamented vessel image by Denis Topal from Fotolia.com
  
  Among the treasures the Greeks have left us, the vase is a useful and beautiful art form. Used for mixing, storing, entertaining and ritual, these ancient containers come with or without handles and in several distinct shapes. From the great finds at Knossos to museums worldwide, the vase elucidates Greek history and culture.
  
  

Vases in General

• While there are about a dozen major styles of vases, it's valid to know a little about the entire group. Greek vases were made of clay, terra cotta, silver, bronze, gold and stones. Some of the stone used included marble, alabaster, basalt, obsidian, porphyry and rock crystal. Each individual vase might feature red or black figures in paintings of daily life scenes, scenes from the mythology, and funerals, weddings or other rituals. People, gods, animals and geometric designs often appear in stacked rows featuring one or another of these.
  
  

Water Vases

• The Hydria is an ornate three-handled water carrier. The Pseudostomos is a Minoan era vase used for water and other liquids. The Stamnos and Rhyton were used for carrying water and fluids, whether to be consumed or to be used in rituals. The Loutroforos is a tall, long-necked, narrow-bodied vase with two long handles from the lip to the body. It was used for pouring water and in funerals or other rituals.
  
  

Wine Vases

• An Oinochoe is a pitcher used for wine; an older version of this was the Olpe. The Krater is a large bowl or wide-mouthed cup, with two side pieces that serve as handles. Kraters were commonly used for mixing wine and water. "Proper" Greeks preferred to drink their wine diluted, as drunkenness was frowned upon. The Kantharos and Kylix are shallow and wide drinking cups, and the Skyphos is a deep wine-cup with two handles that may be horizontal ear-shapes or loops. The Psykter is a narrow mouthed, bulbous bodied container used for cooling wine in ice or snow.
  
  

Oils and Cosmetics Vases

• The Pyxis is a round covered box used for keeping cosmetics. The Lekythos, used for body oils, perfumes and perhaps also for funerals, has a long narrow body, a short neck and a single handle attached at the neck. The Alabastron and Aryballos were like small personal flasks to keep perfumes and fragrant oils. Athletes often wore these attached to their body, or hanging nearby as they exercised or competed. Some of the vases used for water or wine could also be used for olive oil or other fluids for cooking and rituals.
  
  

Other Vases

• Included in the remaining styles are the Pythos and Prochus. The Pythos is a large storage jar into which almost anything could be placed, but they were mainly used by trade centers for storing seeds, grains, oils and wine. When guests visited ancient Greek homes, they would be brought the Prochus, a type of pitcher from which to pour water and wash their hands. Lastly, the Amphora is an easily recognizable vase used as a storage container. It has two curved handles which attach to a full body. Many of these can be found copied in the modern Greek marketplace.