Southern Italy was populated by a large number of Greek colonies from the 8th century BC onwards – so much so that the Romans referred to the area as Magna Graecia – Great Greece. These Greek colonies were instrumental in bringing Greek culture and thought to Italy, greatly influencing Roman literature, philosophy, and material culture in turn.
Gnathian Ware, named after the first place at which significant finds were made, is considered the most one of the most widely traded wares with overpainted decoration. It was produced in a number of centres in Apulia, beginning around the 360s BC and continuing until at least 275 (and possibly to 250 or later). Three colours are regularly used for the decoration: a dark red, white, and what is sometimes termed ‘gold’ (a dilute form of the black gloss, applied over white to produce a yellow, orange, or brown colour). The ‘gold’ colour is used in fine lines to indicate the details of figures, or as it is on this fine example, as a wash across one side of the motif to produce an effect of shading.
An oenochoe, also spelled oinochoe, which means wine-pourer, is a wine jug and a key form of ancient Greek pottery. There are many different forms of oinochoe; Sir John Beazley distinguished ten types. The earliest is the olpe (ὀλπή, olpḗ), with no distinct shoulder and usually a handle rising above the lip. Key characteristics are the trefoil mouth, curved body and single handle.
