The Greek Vase: Art of the storyteller

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Wonderfully preserved Greek vases are a unique source of information about the mythology, religion, drama and daily life of the ancient Greek world. This sumptuous photographic book offers a superb visual introduction to the artistry of ancient Greek vases, exploring them not merely as beautiful vessels to bear water and wine, but also as instruments of storytelling and bearers of meaning.

Presenting the vases and their imagery in their full narrative glory, The Greek Vase interprets their forms and stories along a variety of themes, from the adventures of gods and mythological heroes, to expressive scenes of sexual intimacy and depictions of social, family and domestic life. This beautifully illustrated book highlights what these pictures would have meant to the people who lived with and used them, how they have been received by later generations, and the profound influence of their form, decoration and narrative on subsequent art, architecture and literature.

Author Bio

John H. Oakley is Chancellor Professor and Forrest D Murden Jr Professor at the College of William and Mary, in Williamsburg, Virginia. A classical archaeologist with special interests in Greek vase painting, iconography and Roman sarcophagi, Professor Oakley gained his PhD from Rutgers University, and has written numerous books and articles. He has held professorships at the American School of Classical Studies in Athens, the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, the Albert-Ludwigs-Universitt in Freigburg, Germany and L'Universit Libre de Brussels, Belgium. From 2000 to 2001 he was Visiting Fellow at Princeton University and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.