Teachers, save “Create an Ancient Greek vase” to assign it to your class.

Made of terracotta (fired clay), ancient Greek pots and cups, or “vases” as they are normally called, were fashioned into a variety of shapes and sizes. Of the four colours seen on vases (black, orange-red, purple-red, and white), black and orange-red proved to be especially durable, therefore they are the most common colours seen on the vases discovered. Like the fired clay itself, they were able to withstand the high heat of the kiln, the wear-and-tear of everyday use, and centuries of burial. Due to its durability, Ancient Greek pottery is used to inform much of what we know about the culture and civilisation that existed hundreds of years ago. Many vases discovered are decorated with intricate designs that often tell stories or record significant events in history, shedding light on what Ancient Greece may have been like. Can you design an Ancient Greek vase that shows a moment in your life that was very powerful? It might be something you were really proud of, something you won or completed successfully or just a happy memory that makes you smile. Use the outline given and make sure you use the colours discussed above (black, orange-red, purple-red, and white), bearing in mind that black and orange-red is the most common found today.