Pottery of ancient Cyprus

Neolithic Age

The earliest widely used ceramics during the 5th millenium BC are of the Dark Faced Burnished Ware type. This ceramic technique was followed by the following techniques

Red on White ware

"Combed ware"

Painted and Combed ware, a combination of the two previous types

Bronze Age

"Red Polished Ware" has been found from the start of the Bronze Age in Cyprus.

White-slip- and Base-ring Ware are considered to be "typical Cypriot ceramics of the Late Bronze Age".

Early Iron Age

During the Iron Age the pottery was "colorful and often elaborately painted with geometric or figural motifs. Intricate 'Free-field' compositions graced juglets and jars. Ubiquitous concentric circles were applied to jars, juglets, bowls and kraters using multiple brushes. Finer wares like plates, bowls and jugs were made on the fast wheel, while larger forms like amphoras, amphoroid kraters and pithoi were built with a combination of techniques: wheel throwing, hand coiling or molding."

Cypro-Geometric I

During the period 1050-950 BC, characteristic pottery were

"White Painted I"

"Bichrome I" Ware"

"Plain White I"

"Black Slip I"

Cypro-Geometric II

During the period 950-850 BC, characteristic pottery were

"White Painted II Ware"

"Bichrome II"

"Plain White II"

"Black Slip II"

Cypro-Geometric III

During the period 850-700 BC, characteristic pottery were

White Painted III Ware

Bichrome III

Plain White III

Black Slip III

Red Slip I

Black on Red I

Grey & Black Polished I

Cypro-Archaic I

During the period 700-600 BC, characteristic pottery were

White Painted IV "Free-field Style"

Bichrome IV "Free-field Style"

Plain White IV

Black Slip IV

Red Slip II

Black on Red II

Grey & Black Polished II

Bichrome Red I

Cypro-Archaic II

During the period 600-475 BC, characteristic pottery were

White Painted V Ware

Bichrome V

Plain White V

Black Slip V

Red Slip III

Black on Red III

Bichrome Red II

Cypro-Classical I

During the period 475-400 BC, characteristic pottery were

White Painted VI Ware

Bichrome VI

Plain White VI

Black Slip VI

Red Slip IV

Black on Red IV

Bichrome Red III

Black & Grey Lustrous I

Stroke Polished I

Cypro-Classical II

During the period 400-323 BC, characteristic pottery were

White Painted VII Ware

Bichrome VII

Plain White VII

Red Slip V

Black on Red V

Black & Grey Lustrous II

Stroke Polished II