Download Roman Pottery

Roman Pottery
• Origins: Pottery was an important part of daily living in
ancient Rome. As Roman used earthenware for most
of the purposes, a huge quantity of utensils, cooking
pots, amphorae and fine wares were produced.
• Many have since been discovered during excavation.
These items provide a rare insight into Roman life and
society. Roman pottery was initially influenced by
Etruscan and Greek style but later on established its
own separate identity.
• Unlike Greek pottery in which decorations were painted
on the pottery, Romans preferred to engrave them.
Roman pottery can be divided in two main categories,
namely fine ware and coarse ware. Gaul, North Africa
and several parts of present day Italy were known for
their pottery all over the empire.
Fine Ware
• Fine Wares: Fine wares were the more formal
and exquisite pottery that was used by Romans
for formal occasions and was used to serve food
on the table. The fine ware was delicate and had
thin walls. They had a glossy surface and some
were lead glazed to make them look shiny.
Several beakers, flasks, flagons and vases have
been found from excavations sites. The rise of
glass and silver ware affected pottery adversely
during the days of Roman Empire.
Coarse Ware
• Coarse Ware: Coarse ware, as the name suggests was
coarsely made and was used for different purposes like
cooking, carrying liquids and eating (for poor people).
The quality was low and the product had thick walls to
withstand rough use in kitchens and other places. These
items of pottery were cheap and often broke owing to
rough use in kitchens. They did not carry any decoration
and were simple in design. The shape and size
depended on the intended purpose of use. Poor Romans
and slaves could not afford fine ware and used coarse
ware pottery utensils for eating and cooking both.
Amphorae
• Amphorae: Roman Amphorae were pottery jars which
were used to carry different liquids and food items like
olive oil, fish sauce and wine. These were usually large
and coarsely made pottery items. The shape and size
depended on type of liquid to be stored in them. It was
also important that amphorae were easy to handle and
stored and were not too heavy or delicate. A huge
number of ancient Roman Amphorae were recovered in
Rome from Monte Testaccio, an artificial mound which is
composed entirely of pieces of broken amphorae. The
most common type of vessel found is a 70 liter container
used for storing olive oil.
Decorations
• Decorations: Romans did not have a taste
for painting the pottery for decoration like
Greeks. They were more enamored by
relief work for the purpose of decoration.
Romans also used the technique of
glazing the pottery with lead and other
materials to make them appear shiny and
beautiful.
Roman pottery has been found
buried in the ground.
Cooking -
Honey, Fish Sauce, Vinegar
Drinking-
Water, Wine
Eating -
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