Discovering Cypriot Pottery

Cypriot pottery reflects the island’s rich history and cultural identity.

Key Highlights

• The history of Cypriot pottery begins in the Neolithic period and spans thousands of years, showing many connections with other Mediterranean cultures.
• During the Early and Middle Bronze Age, Cypriot pottery was particularly imaginative, with famous styles like Red Polished Ware.
• Key Late Bronze Age styles include the iconic White Slip Ware and Base Ring Ware, which were widely exported across the Eastern Mediterranean.
• The Iron Age saw the popularization of Bichrome Ware, known for its two-color geometric and later, figural decorations.
• Ancient Cyprus produced many vessel types, from everyday jugs and bowls to distinct ritual objects.
• The tradition continues today, with modern artisans in Cyprus preserving ancient pottery-making techniques.

The history of ceramics in Cyprus shows us a lot about the island’s past. For many years Cypriot pottery has been proof of the unique way of life there. Cyprus is in the middle of the Mediterranean, so it was shaped by places nearby, but the Cypriot potters made their own styles. The pottery of ancient Cyprus is special because of the way it looks and how they decorated it. By looking at the pottery, you can see how people lived, worked, and made art in Cyprus long ago. These pieces are more than just objects. They show a story of Cyprus and give us a real link to the people from ancient Cyprus.

The Historical Roots of Cypriot Pottery

The story of Cypriot pottery started later than pottery on the mainland. Still, it soon found its own style and place in history. The archaeological record shows that people in Cyprus began to make pottery during the Neolithic period. The craft kept changing as it moved through the Chalcolithic period. Knowing this long history helps us learn how the pottery of ancient Cyprus grew and changed over time.

In each period, there were new ways to make and decorate pots. During the Bronze Age, Cyprus became known for making new shapes and creative decoration. This helped Cyprus stand out as an important place for pottery. After that, the Iron Age came with fresh ideas and set ways that people used all around the area. When you look into the past, you see how the pottery of ancient Cyprus changed with new tools, forms, and styles.

Early Pottery Traditions in the Neolithic and Chalcolithic Periods

Pottery started in Cyprus during the neolithic period, around the 5th millennium BC. People on the island made the first ceramics called Dark Faced Burnished Ware. This style was the beginning of Cypriot pottery. After that, new styles came, like Red on White ware and “Combed ware.” In combed ware, people drew patterns into wet clay.

In those early years, making pottery was something people did at home. It was not a big or special business. Pottery from different places on Cyprus looks much the same. This shows people used a method that was the same for everyone. It also tells us that their society did not have many specialist craft workers. They had a way for all to make their own pottery.

The first Cypriot ceramics were important in people’s lives. They used them to store and work with food or liquids. The shapes were simple and practical. These early Cypriot pottery pieces show what people needed. What they made set the start for more advanced ceramics that came in later periods.

Evolution Through the Bronze and Iron Ages

The Bronze Age was an important time for Cypriot ceramics. At the start, people made Bronze Age pottery by hand. Red Polished Ware was found everywhere. It was known for being handmade and having creative shapes. In the late Bronze Age, new styles like White Slip and Base Ring ware started. These became well-known exports and are classic pieces of Cypriot pottery. The different shapes and designs show the creativity of Bronze Age pottery.

When the Iron Age started, pottery on the island changed again. People began to use the potter’s wheel more. This made the shapes of Iron Age pottery more regular and brought a fresh look. Pots from the Iron Age had bright colors and detailed painting. Many had geometric or figure motifs. Fine pieces like jugs and bowls were made with the fast wheel. Large pieces, like amphoras, were made in simple ways or sometimes a mix of methods. The amphora Greek vase was also a staple in ancient Greek pottery traditions.

During this time, styles such as Cypriot bichrome ware and Black-on-Red ware were developed. These types of wares were made in big numbers and sent to many places. Because of this, Cypriot ceramics became famous in the ancient world. The change from the handmade, creative bronze age pots to the wheel-made, painted iron age pottery shows big changes in both tools and trade.

Hellenistic and Roman Periods

As Cyprus moved into the Hellenistic period and then the Roman era, it stopped being one of the top places exporting pottery. For a long time, ceramics from Cyprus were wanted all over the Mediterranean. But the archaeological record now shows there was a drop in how much Cypriot pottery was found in other places. This new trend happened right when trade networks in the Mediterranean were at their biggest point.

This change was probably mainly because of politics and money. When the Ptolemaic and Roman empires took over Cyprus, the copper trade was no longer run by local people. Pottery used to travel as a second type of cargo with these copper shipments. Once the metals trade dropped, it also caused fewer ceramics to be sent out.

Even with these changes, people on the island of Cyprus kept making pottery. They became more able to take care of themselves, and their potters learned to make new things that people now liked. In the Hellenistic period, pottery with color coatings got more popular. During Roman times, potters kept working to meet the needs of people living on Cyprus. At the same time, innovations such as ancient Greek vase painting were influencing Mediterranean ceramic art.

Styles Across Cypriot Pottery History

The history of Cypriot pottery shows many different styles. Each one has its own look and feel that makes it unique. There is the shiny surface of Red Polished Ware and the detailed designs of Bichrome Ware. Both of these types of pottery help to tell the story of art and ideas on the island. If you look at these types of pottery closely, you can see the skill that Cypriot potters had and how they used their ideas to make each piece.

Cypriot pottery and ware did not come from a single place. They were shaped by talks and trade with nearby areas, but they still kept a Cypriot touch. The next parts will talk about the most important types of pottery, like bichrome ware and red polished ware, and what makes each one special. They will also look at how these pieces show something about the people who made and used the pottery through the years.

The Cultural Identity of Cypriot Pottery

Cypriot pottery shows the strong and special culture on the island of Cyprus. The place sits between old cultures like Egypt, the Levant, and the Aegean. Still, Cyprus did not just copy what others did. The makers in Cyprus took new ideas from outside and mixed them with their own way of doing things. This helped them make Cypriot ceramics that were fresh and different.

This way of doing new things and still using what comes from other places is key to Cypriot ceramics. The pottery helps us see how different places in the Mediterranean talked and traded with each other. You can find Cypriot pottery at many sites in the Levant and Egypt. This shows how Cyprus was an important trade spot during the Bronze and Iron Ages.

The look, feel, and style of Cypriot pottery share a strong, clear story about the island. The pottery gives true proof that Cyprus was its own place in the world. The people in Cyprus were tied to other places, but also kept their own way of making ceramics, strong and sure.

Key Features of Red Polished and Base Ring Ware

Among the most well-known styles of the bronze age are Red Polished Ware and Base Ring Ware. Red Polished Ware was most common in the early and middle bronze age. It stood out for being handmade and had a look that people still notice. It was made from local clay. This ware was given a glossy finish that helped make it a clear type from that time.

Base Ring Ware started to show up in the late bronze age and soon got shipped out to other places. This kind of ware is easy to spot. The clay is thin and looks a bit like metal, often fired into colors like red-orange, brown, or grey. Many people say its shapes look like the opium poppy. The way it is decorated, with marks like cuts on a poppy head, helps support that.

Key things that set these two styles apart:

• Red Polished Ware: This ware has a shiny, reddish-brown surface. It often shows geometric patterns that are cut into the surface.
• Base Ring Ware: It has very thin sides, and when you tap it, the ware makes a sound like metal.
• Distinctive Shapes: You will find special forms with both types of ware—like tall-spouted jugs in Red Polished Ware or poppy-shaped juglets in Base Ring Ware.

Bichrome Ware and Its Unique Characteristics

Cypriot Bichrome Ware is a type of pottery from the iron age. People know it by the way two colors are used for decoration. Potters use black and reddish-brown on a light beige or cream surface. This special two-tone look is easy to spot when you see other ancient pottery. It stands out because of how the colors come together on the ware.

What is special about Cypriot Bichrome Ware is how its style changed over time. At first, potters focused on making neat geometric patterns. There are concentric circles, wavy lines, and triangles used in the decoration. In the Cypro-Archaic period, potters started to try “free-field” decorations. There, you can see fun scenes with animals like birds and bulls, and sometimes even people.

Cypriot Bichrome Ware shows both neat geometric patterns and lively pictures. That mix is what makes this pottery different from other styles in the eastern Mediterranean. People also traded this ware a lot across the Levant. Archaeologists look for Cypriot Bichrome Ware to help figure out the age of other things they find. The style is good proof that potters in Cyprus knew both local and outside art ideas. Because of this, the pottery was wanted by many people around the Mediterranean.

Common Vessels and Everyday Uses

Cypriot pottery, known for its art, was made to be useful first. In ancient Cyprus, people used these vessels in their daily life. Pots helped them keep food and water safe. Some pots were used for pouring wine at community events. Every pot had its own shape and size. That shape always fit the job the pot was meant to do.

There were simple bowls for eating. There were big jars that people used to store things for a long time. Each type of pottery had a job to do in the home. Some pots were made for rituals or funeral rites. This shows pottery was key in many parts of life in ancient Cyprus. In the next sections, you will read about the most common shapes of vessels and their use.

Jugs, Bowls, and Storage Jars

The most common vessels in ancient Cyprus were those used for daily tasks. Jugs, bowls, and storage jars were staples in every household and were produced in nearly every period and style of Cypriot pottery. Jugs, with their single handle and neck, were perfect for pouring liquids, while bowls were all-purpose containers for food and drink. Storage jars, such as amphoras, were larger vessels designed to hold commodities like grain, oil, or wine.

The design of these vessels was refined over time. Early Bronze Age jugs often had round bases and tall spouts, while Iron Age jugs became more standardized with the use of the potter’s wheel. Bowls ranged from simple, functional shapes to more elaborate forms like the kylix pottery, a type of drinking cup.

The classification of these shapes helps in understanding their function and prevalence. The table below, based on the system proposed by Desmond Morris, simplifies the main vessel types.

Ritual and Decorative Objects

Beyond daily use, the pottery of ancient Cyprus had an important place in rituals and ceremonies. Potters in Cyprus made special pieces that were not just for storage or serving food. These items were for certain ceremonies or funerals. The pots often had detailed shapes and designs that set them apart from the usual home items.

Some of these special objects were composite jugs with several spouts or bodies. There were also terracotta figurines. People put these objects in tombs as grave goods so the dead could take them into the afterlife. When high-quality pottery like imported Mycenaean kraters appeared in important tombs, it showed these things were needed for funeral ceremonies and to show the high rank of the person.

There were also other, unusual types of pottery. The arm-shaped vessels in Red Lustrous Ware are a good example—archaeologists do not know for sure how people used them. Many now think they played a part in religious or ritual practices. These pretty and special pieces show that Cypriot pottery was used in many ways and was much more than just practical things for everyday life in ancient Cyprus.

Decorative Motifs and Symbolism in Cypriot Pottery

The decoration on Cypriot pottery is what really makes it stand out. The motifs were chosen for a reason. The artists wanted to show what mattered to them. These designs followed cultural trends and they give a window into their beliefs and ideas from the outside. You will see everything from basic lines to detailed pictures. Every motif means something for each vessel.

The decoration styles did not stay the same. At first, most patterns had simple shapes that were carved in. Later, artists began to paint animals and people on the pottery. These choices show a lot about that time. They tell us about the people who made them. The next parts will look at the most popular motifs and what cultural things changed them.

Geometric Patterns and Animal Figures

Geometric patterns were important in Cypriot pottery for many years. In the iron age, these designs were everywhere. Potters used more than one brush to add nice patterns to jugs, bowls, and other pottery. They made each line with care.

One of the main geometric motifs was concentric circles. You could see these on lots of vessels, mostly in bichrome ware. Similar designs were also common in geometric Greek pottery. Wavy lines, triangles, and lattice designs were also very popular. These were not just for decoration. They made up a design language that people across the island could understand.

After some time, especially in the “Free-field” style during the Cypro-Archaic period, potters started adding more pictures of real things. These decorations made the pottery livelier, with images from nature.

• Animal Figures: Birds, bulls, and deer were common. They were often painted in action.
• Human Figures: These were seen less often, but sometimes showed people in stories.
• Concentric Circles: This pattern was a key feature in the Cypro-Geometric and Cypro-Archaic periods.

Cultural Influences on Cypriot Designs

Cyprus sits in the eastern Mediterranean. It has always been a place where many cultures meet. You can see these influences in Cypriot ceramics. Pottery from the Levant, Anatolia, Egypt, and the Aegean had an effect on designs from Cyprus. But Cypriot potters did more than just copy styles. They took parts from other places and mixed them into their own pottery styles.

Some pottery shapes look like they are from the Levant. Some decorations may be close to Aegean patterns. You can see this mix clearly in bichrome ware. This type of ware uses Cypriot shapes and has designs that people around the Mediterranean liked. So, these ceramics looked familiar but were also special to people from foreign places.

Cypriot ceramics show how the people on the island were able to use ideas from outside and still keep their own way of doing things. Their pottery tells us Cyprus was open to the world but strong in its traditions. The style on these ceramics says a lot about Cyprus and the role it played in art around the ancient Mediterranean.

Cypriot Pottery Today

The long tradition of Cypriot pottery is still strong today. The craft is not just in the past. In fact, there are many potters who now bring it back to life. People all over the island work hard to keep old techniques alive, much like artisans reviving modern Greek pottery traditions. These Cypriot potters hold onto skills from long ago, and this links us now with their rich history.

The way Cypriot pottery continues is important. It helps make sure skills and ideas from before are not lost. In the villages and small workshops, you can see potters at work. They use the local clay to shape by hand or on the wheel. Then, they fire it in kilns. Each piece shows the island’s ceramic past and also brings a new, modern touch.

Modern Pottery Artisans and Craft Revival

In a time when many things are made by machines, the work of Cypriot pottery makers stands out. In places like Foini and Kornos, making pottery has become popular again. Here, potters use old ways that have come from their families. These methods help keep Cypriot culture alive.

People in these villages use local clay as their families used to do. They shape the pottery by hand or with a pottery wheel. Then, they place what they make in old-style kilns. The final pieces be both useful and nice to look at. This care for old ways links them to the first potters of Cyprus.

People are starting to value handmade items more. This makes the craft grow stronger.

• Traditional Villages: Foini and Kornos are important places for Cypriot pottery.
• Use of Local Materials: The potters use clay from the island so they stay close to Cyprus and its land.
• Passing on Skills: These old ways are taught to new potters, keeping this craft going.

The pottery wheel helps Cypriot potters make pieces by hand. The story of pottery in Cyprus shows how people still use skills from the past, and gives all of us a look at their rich history.

Differences Between Cypriot Pottery and Greek Pottery

While Cyprus and Greece had a lot of contact, the way they made pottery was very different for most of their history. The main reason is the local clay and how people in Cyprus made their pots. Cypriot pottery often uses special clay from the island. This gives it a different feel and look. There are styles like Red Polished Ware and Base Ring Ware that come from Cyprus. These don’t have matching types in Greek pottery at all. You can see another big difference in the decoration. If you look at Cypriot Bichrome Ware from the iron age, you’ll see many concentric circles. These circles are a key part of how pottery looked in Cyprus back then.

There are also differences in the shapes of the pots and the way people used them. Sometimes Cypriot pottery names sound Greek, such as “Oinochoe,” which means a type of jug. But a jug from Cyprus might be made for a different reason and not look the same as one from Greece. When trying to spot real ancient Cypriot pottery, you need to notice the mix of clay, shape, and decoration. These things are what set Cypriot ceramics apart from what you’d find in Athens or other places in Greece.

Parting Thoughts

To sum up, Cypriot pottery is full of history and culture. You can see how pottery from Cyprus has changed from ancient days to now. Each piece says something about the people who lived on the island, starting from the neolithic period all the way to artists working today. There are Cypriot pottery pieces with special decorative motifs, and some are made to be used every day. This shows how people put a mix of beauty and use into their pottery. As you look into Cypriot pottery, think about how these one-of-a-kind pieces could add something to your own collection or help you feel closer to the island’s long past.