Abstract: Minoan Pottery: Artworks or Artifacts

Lecturer: Carl Knappett

We often consider the alluring pottery of Minoan Crete as among the finest art of the ancient Aegean world. Yet while the craftsmanship of many of these pieces is indeed awe-inspiring, much Minoan pottery is actually plain and repetitive. What is the relationship between the enthralling artworks on the one hand and the mundane artefacts on the other? Were they produced by the same artisans, or by separate workshops? Were they used side by side, or in quite distinct settings? And how should we go about studying these different categories? This talk shows how combining stylistic analysis with scientific techniques is leading to exciting new perspectives on the fascinating pottery of Bronze Age Crete.