Greek Pottery: The Many Hydriai

Greek potters aimed to create vases that would be aesthetically beautiful and also have a utilitarian function. They had to design motifs based on the use or function of a vessel.  Athens was the main center where pottery was created and manufactured during the Archaic Period in all of Greece.  Black-Figure vases were invented which resembled stylistically, the Geometric period, but then evolved into the amphora- a large, all purpose storage jar, which usually depicted illustrations of the wine god Dionysos.  Then, in the last third of the sixth century BCE, a new technique came about called red-figure decoration.  It was characterized by red painted figures against a black background, which is the opposite of black figure painting.  In essence, Greek pottery was evolving from the initial intricacies of engraving, to having more freedom in painting.

The hydria, deriving from the Greek word for water, is a pot made for fetching water.  The hydria usually  depicts scenes of women carrying water from a fountain which was one of women's duties of the time.  Once again, the Greek vessel has a utilitarian function of holding water, and is painted with imagery to reflect its purpose.  It has two horizontal handles at the sides for lifting, and a vertical handle at the back for dipping and pouring.  Most hydriai are bronze and t erracotta.

Terracotta hydria evolved from the seventh century BC to the third century BC from having a wide body with a rounded shoulder to more of one with a flatter shoulder, meeting the body at a sharp angle.

Terracotta hydria (water jar), ca. 520–510 B.C.

By the end of the sixth century BC a spin off of the hydria evolved called the kalpis.  It had one continuous curve from the lip through the body of the vessel.  The kalpis became the favorite vessel among red figure painters.

Terracotta hydria: kalpis (water jar), ca. 510 B.C

Terricotta black glazed hydria of the late Classical period were painted of gilt wreaths representing actual gold funerary wreaths.  Many hydria depicted funerary scenes.  Bronze Hydriai, with hammered bodies and feet and handles, featured sirens, which were also funerary connotations, representing death.  Many of the bronze hydria turned green from corrosion from over the centuries.  (I think they look really cool like this!)

Bronze hydria (water jar), late 7th–early 6th century B.C.

The Hadra Hydria is representative of the Hellenistic period.  It was a water jug used as a cinerary urn, decorated with black paint, usually bearing inscriptions that identify the year in which one had died.

Terracotta Hadra hydria (water jar) with funerary inscription, 226–225 B.C.