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The Middle Bronze Age
c. 2000–1550 BCE

MIDDLE MINOAN POTTERY

KAMARES WARE


View of Mount Ida north of the Palace of Phaistos
where the Kamares cave sanctuary was located

The best examples of KAMARES pottery were evidently made for palace use. It is a high-quality fabric (thanks to the introduction of the potter's wheel, probably from Asia Minor) with a colorful decoration on a dark background. Curvilinear abstract patterns such as scrolls, arabesques, abstracted marine forms and other natural organic shapes are drawn in pure white and in many brilliant colours of orange, red, and yellow. The decorative schemes tend to follow radiating and revolving patterns which give the forms a lively, writhing quality.


Kamares eggshell ware cup
from Phaistos
MM II
Diameter 43/4 inches
(Archaeological Museum, Herakleion, Crete)

One of many varieties of the typical "teacup" shape. The ware is called "eggshell" because it is so thin; it required considerable skill in manufacturing it. The pattern is a series of horizontal wavy lines in orange running parallel around the cup. The decoration also includes abstracted plant motifs in white and orange. The delicate designs may reflect patterns found in fabrics. The shape as a whole probably copies cup originally made in metal.


Kamares ware beak-spouted jug
from Phaistos
MM II
Height 10 3/5 inches
(Archaeological Museum, Herakleion, Crete)

Abstract design motifs are repeated, with pairs of spiral-ended forms linked to oval shield-like shapes decorated with orange bars arranged in diagonally placed patterns. The spout points up like a bird's beak, an impression enhanced by the protruding "eye". The pot attains thereby a zoomorphic quality.

The addition of pellets of clay to the spout follow a convention encountered in earlier Vasilike ware pots (EM II).


Kamares style 3-handled pithos with spout
MM II
(Archaeological Museum, Herakleion, Crete)

Kamares Fruitstand (from side and top)
from Phaistos
MM IIB
(Archaeological Museum, Herakleion, Crete)

This "fruitstand" is decorated with painted, multi-coloured, spiral patterns. The rim is adorned with a toothed fringe.


Kamares crater, with added clay blossoms
from Phaistos
MM II
(Archaeological Museum, Herakleion, Crete)


© Christopher L. C. E. Witcombe