SAMIAN POTTERY

Samain Ware Pottery

Samian Ware Pottery

Introduction

Overview

The exploration of the roman history has provided a vast, diverse and a rich cultural heritage. From gladiators to the shiny red pottery the history constitutes significant mysteries that have become the point of interests for the archaeologists to discover. Amongst these mysteries Samian ware pottery has been of keen interest for the archaeologists. The red and black pottery Samian pottery, also known as Terra Sigillata, was made in the midst of the1st and 2nd century in south, east and central Gaul, present day France and Germany. The prehistoric and roman culture has provided a reason of interest for the archaeologist to unfold the mysteries of the Roman Empire. Samian ware pottery has provided a way through which these archaeologists have been exploring about the culture and much is needed to be explored.

Samian Pot

The red and black colour pot is a piece of Samian pottery which highlights the rich heritage of the Romans. The rich and cultural heritage is evident through the illustration present on the pottery that shows the traces of fashion used through crafting. The intriguing red and black colour of the pottery makes it unique and the illustrations present coordinates well with the culture.

The piece that is used for the investigation to understand the form of Samian ware pottery is a pot. The pot is made up of fine clay that is purified through various filtration methods of the Roman time. The distinguishing red exterior of the pot was a slip of filtered liquid clay. The pots were dipped in this form of clay and were manufactured on the industrial scale. The piece under inspection has a reference number of 14/29 and 2T2.80. The shiny red clay has illustration present on the exterior while the interior is plain and smooth. The fragments and shred of the pottery shows that it is a form of a pot that was used for cooking purposes. The illustrations present on the pot make it unique and unusual.

Fig 1.a Fragment of a Samian ware Pot

Fig 1.b Reference number on the pot

Discussion

Samian ware pottery became prevalent throughout the territory Black sea region and the Mediterranean Sea during the reign of Romans. These were the rich and mass produced tableware that decorated the tables of the rich class of the Romans throughout the Empire. This is the reason of its mass production, 1206 pottery utensils were produced in the industry each day. The uniquely crafted Samian pottery was famous in the region for its versatile colour slip and illustrations. It was exported to many parts of the region that came under Roman Empire. Every piece had a unique usage that could be well understand through the illustrations provided on the material. The pottery was mainly used for cooking and serving food. The pottery that was famous for its unique designs was imported to Britain from Gaul. The vessels and other crafts depicted the roman mythological illustrations that gave the beauty to the clay made ...