DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8577#0037
THE LATE PROTOCORINTHIAN ORIENTALIZING STYLE 17
more certainly between 540 and 500 B.C. than in the long, sure process of
development which preceded the adoption of the red-figure style ? But our
concern is with the seventh century, a dark age as yet in comparison with
the later sixth. I can only recommend any one who is interested to apply the
criteria which I suggest, and any others that may be available, to the whole
material collected in the catalogue at the end of this book, and see whether
he is not led to definite conclusions. I have mentioned in the catalogue many
instances in which I do feel doubt as to the position of particular groups or
single vases; but in the majority of instances we can check our conclusions from
more than one point of view, and thus greatly reduce the possibility of error.
Johansen and others have already pointed out that the first indication of
change in the third Protocorinthian period is the transformation of the
aryballos from the ovoid to the pointed form.1 Developments in the style of
decoration show that the pointed form is chronologically as well as typo-
logicallythe latest. The pointed shape seen,for example, in pi.9,8 is the usual
form of the aryballos in this period. A few vases,2 which for various reasons
must certainly be placed here, retain the ovoid shape of the body, but have
the wide mouths usual in the late period. In one instance (no. 18, pi. 9,1) we
see a reaction against the top-heavy pointed type, and something like a
revival of the early globular form.3
There is, I think, no need to spend time in pointing out the similarity be-
tween the late Protocorinthian vases and their immediate antecedents. I shall
confine myself, therefore, to describing the new features of this last phase of
the Protocorinthian style.
It will be seen that the shoulders of the aryballoi nos. 1-8 are decorated with
a floral garland, in the same manner as vases of the earlier period. The form
of this garland is, however, different from that of earlier vases; it is diffuse and
less strictly organic in structure (contrast pi. 3 and fig. 113), and it seems
to imply a declining interest in decoration of this kind. On the other aryballoi
the garland is given up altogether and is replaced by a simple pattern of red
and black tongues—the regular decoration of the upper part of small vases
in the Transitional and Corinthian periods.4 There is another small change in
the secondary decoration of these vases. The friezes are no longer divided by
groups of horizontal lines as they are normally in the earlier styles: a single
line is now the rule.
There is still a certain amount of very elaborate miniature work in the
manner of the second archaic style (cf. pi. 8, 9, enlarged three times), but the
1 At the same time the mouth becomes wider and Johansen excludes this vase from his Protocorin-
usually heavier than in ovoid vases. thian category (p. 167); it is certain, however, that
2 Nos. 10,16,17 (cf. pi. 9, 5); Johansen also regards it belongs here, because it is by the same hand as
these as late Protocorinthian. nos. 14-17; cf. pi. 9, 1, 4-6.
3 The size and shape of the mouth are of course 4 On Corinthian vases the tongues on the mouth,
characteristic of the third period (contrast pi. 1,1). shoulder, and base are often plain black.
more certainly between 540 and 500 B.C. than in the long, sure process of
development which preceded the adoption of the red-figure style ? But our
concern is with the seventh century, a dark age as yet in comparison with
the later sixth. I can only recommend any one who is interested to apply the
criteria which I suggest, and any others that may be available, to the whole
material collected in the catalogue at the end of this book, and see whether
he is not led to definite conclusions. I have mentioned in the catalogue many
instances in which I do feel doubt as to the position of particular groups or
single vases; but in the majority of instances we can check our conclusions from
more than one point of view, and thus greatly reduce the possibility of error.
Johansen and others have already pointed out that the first indication of
change in the third Protocorinthian period is the transformation of the
aryballos from the ovoid to the pointed form.1 Developments in the style of
decoration show that the pointed form is chronologically as well as typo-
logicallythe latest. The pointed shape seen,for example, in pi.9,8 is the usual
form of the aryballos in this period. A few vases,2 which for various reasons
must certainly be placed here, retain the ovoid shape of the body, but have
the wide mouths usual in the late period. In one instance (no. 18, pi. 9,1) we
see a reaction against the top-heavy pointed type, and something like a
revival of the early globular form.3
There is, I think, no need to spend time in pointing out the similarity be-
tween the late Protocorinthian vases and their immediate antecedents. I shall
confine myself, therefore, to describing the new features of this last phase of
the Protocorinthian style.
It will be seen that the shoulders of the aryballoi nos. 1-8 are decorated with
a floral garland, in the same manner as vases of the earlier period. The form
of this garland is, however, different from that of earlier vases; it is diffuse and
less strictly organic in structure (contrast pi. 3 and fig. 113), and it seems
to imply a declining interest in decoration of this kind. On the other aryballoi
the garland is given up altogether and is replaced by a simple pattern of red
and black tongues—the regular decoration of the upper part of small vases
in the Transitional and Corinthian periods.4 There is another small change in
the secondary decoration of these vases. The friezes are no longer divided by
groups of horizontal lines as they are normally in the earlier styles: a single
line is now the rule.
There is still a certain amount of very elaborate miniature work in the
manner of the second archaic style (cf. pi. 8, 9, enlarged three times), but the
1 At the same time the mouth becomes wider and Johansen excludes this vase from his Protocorin-
usually heavier than in ovoid vases. thian category (p. 167); it is certain, however, that
2 Nos. 10,16,17 (cf. pi. 9, 5); Johansen also regards it belongs here, because it is by the same hand as
these as late Protocorinthian. nos. 14-17; cf. pi. 9, 1, 4-6.
3 The size and shape of the mouth are of course 4 On Corinthian vases the tongues on the mouth,
characteristic of the third period (contrast pi. 1,1). shoulder, and base are often plain black.