Panel 5.6 – Distribution of Greek Vases


Organiser/Chair:

  • Alan Shapiro (Johns Hopkins University)

Paper abstracts

1. Filippo Giudice (University of Catania) /  Marco Stefano Scaravilli

L’isola di Taso ed il suo ruolo nel commercio della ceramica attica figurata dagli inizi del VI al IV secolo a.C.
Il presente lavoro, dedicato al sito di Taso, rientra nell’ ambito del progetto Post-paralipomena dell’Archivio Ceramografico dell’Università di Catania, finalizzato alla costruzione dei quadri di riferimento delle importazioni di ceramica attica nei vari mercati del Mediterraneo.
L’isola di Taso, nonostante la sua posizione strategica lungo la rotta che interessa la Grecia settentrionale (Eubea, Tessaglia, Macedonia, penisola Calcidica, Tracia) sembra rivestire un ruolo differenziato nel tempo, sia per quanto concerne l’utilizzazione locale della ceramica attica figurata, che nell’ambito della sua redistribuzione verso l’ Ellesponto ed il Mar Nero. Taso, al contempo, rappresenta il punto di arrivo della rotta che da Rodi e da Samo sale verso l’Egeo settentrionale.

 

2. Eleni Zimi (University of Peloponnese)

Change and continuity in the function of Attic pottery in Cyrenaica: the case of Euesperides
It is adequately documented that Attic pottery circulated in Cyrenaica between the sixth and the third century BC, either via maritime trade or through inter-regional exchange. Yet, previous research has narrowly focused on often selective presentation and treatment of the wide range of Attic forms, both of figured and of black-glazed pots, yielded primarily from sanctuaries and cemeteries, and little attention has been paid to the study and analysis of function and context of Attic imports over time. The material evidence from the systematic excavations at Euesperides – the most westerly Greek settlement in Cyrenaica – held between 1999 and 2007, offers the opportunity to approach Attic pottery in Cyrenaica under the light of fully quantified domestic assemblages which enables the exploration of change and continuity in the function of Attic imports and, ultimately, in the consumption behaviours of the settlers, as well as to juxtapose it with relevant corpora from sanctuaries and cemeteries in the wider region. Thus, this paper aims to: a) address questions such as where and how Attic imports were used, what was their meaning for the people who owned them, and, then, by comparing contexts, b) to explore the consumption trends for Attic pottery at the site-specific and regional level, in a long time frame, c) to outline patterns of change in different phases of the city’s life, and c) to assess the role of tradition in the local consuming habits.

"Change and Continuity in the Consumption of Attic Pottery in Cyrenaica in Classical Times: The Case of Euesperides" (Fulltext)

 

3. Marcella Accolla

Imports of attic black-figured vases and attic red-figured vases at Gela in the second quarter of the V century B.C.
The present contribution focuses on the analysis of imports of attic black-figured vases and attic red-figured vases, that are present at Gela in the period between the 475 and the 450 B.C..
The research work has focused on the systematic study of painters who are present with its production in the colony founded by Greek people, coming from Rhodes and Crete, on the southern coast of Sicily, in 689-88 B.C.; later was evaluated their diffusion through the markets of the Mediterranean to identify, where possible, tracks of diffusion.
Initially we started from the acquisition of data relative to the attic vases with certain geloa provenance, traced in the lists published by C. H. E. Haspels and by J. D. Beazley, inclusive of subsequent updates. These data have been added those derived from new acquisitions, from recent excavations or never included in those lists. This has allowed us to identify, also thanks to a painstaking work of attribution for pots not attributed, conducted by Elvia and Giada Giudice, numerous painters that are present at Gela in the period taken into consideration.
The production of each painter was subjected to a quantitative and qualitative analysis that can give answers to our questions in relation to the markets and to routes of distribution, as well as information relating to the preferences of the commissioning on forms and subjects.

"Le importazioni di vasi attici a figure nere e a figure rosse a Gela nel secondo venticinquennio del V sec. a. C." (Fulltext)

 

4. Bettina Kreuzer (Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften, CVA)

The Leagros Group and the Mechanisms of Trade: Trademarks Revisited
Graffiti and dipinti under the foot of Attic Vases have been identified as trademarks by Rudolph Hackl
(as early as in 1909) and Alan Johnston (1979 and 2006). Johnston’s lists of marks and his explanations have provided the means to explore the details of the mechanisms of trade.
In order to understand these details better, my paper will focus on one particular workshop, the Leagros Group. This most productive of the Late Archaic workshops at Athens provides a rare corpus of dipinti and graffiti since all of the 136 hydriae as well as many belly amphorae, neck amphorae or olpai feature marks, many of them different, abbreviating the names of traders, sometimes written on top of each other, and/or shapes and numbers of pieces transported in one batch. Recently, some of the batches have been the focus of an article by Adriano Maggiani. I will widen his approach and add all available evidence in order to reveal a new overall picture: Who ordered the vases in the Kerameikos, who was responsible for the transport to the west and which shapes did the batches include? Having collected and evaluated all the information, a brief comparison with contemporary workshops will clarify the status of the Leagros Group in the distribution network of the late 6th cent. BC.

"The Leagros Group and the Mechanisms of Trade: Trademarks Revisited" (Fulltext)

 

5. Isabella Hodgson (University of Bonn)

Modern marketing theory and ancient ceramics
Modern marketing theories can create a better understanding of the distribution and the development of ancient artefacts. E. M. Rogers’ Theory of Diffusion, used today to plan marketing strategies, provides insight into the dynamics within the groups of buyers of given products. In ancient times, like today, innovations will first have been adopted by comparatively educated, wealthy and well networked pioneers, the so called early adopters, before reaching the broad mass of customers. Here E. M. Rogers differentiates further between groups with different social backgrounds. The changing buyers appear to have influenced the artefacts and their characteristics, shaping the stylistic and typological development e. g. of the polychrome ceramics from Canosa. The theory of diffusion and the product life cycle theory of R. Vernon furthermore support the intuitive evolutionary model of the development of a group of artefacts: A small scale beginning with many variants is followed by growth, maturity and decline. The applicability of such theories in antiquity will be discussed using different ancient groups of artefacts.