The Archaic period in Greek vase painting began around 700 B.C. and lasted until 480 B.C., when it was replaced by the Classical period of red-figure vase painting. Before the Archaic period, ancient Greek vase painting had revolved around geometric shapes. But during the Archaic period, Greek vase painters began experimenting with animal and human forms, probably due to contact with other cultures around the Mediterranean. The figures - human, animal and mythological - were painted on a red clay background with a slip that turned black when it was fired. "Slip" is a slurry of special clay minerals, similar to a glaze. Common themes were funerals, sports, war and mythology. By 550 B.C., Athenian painters were exporting their vases to other cities all over the Mediterranean. Some well-known vase painters were Sophilos, Kleitias, Nearchos, Lydos, Exekias and the Amasis painter.
The Francois vase is probably the most well-known Greek vase in the world. It was discovered in Italy, near Florence, by Allesandro Francois. The vase was painted by Kleitias, who signed it, sometime between 570 and 560 B.C. It was broken into hundreds of pieces at one time, but it has been restored.
There are five bands or friezes on the large vase, depicting various mythological events and events related to the Trojan War. The top frieze depicts the Caledonian Boar Hunt on one side and the dance of the Athenian youth on the other. The second band from the top shows the funeral games for Patroclus, Achilles' great friend, on one side, and on the other it shows the battle between the Lapiths and the Centaurs. The third band shows the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, who was the mother of Achilles. The centaur Chiron is also depicted in this frieze.
Band four shows the battle of Achilles and Troilus during the Trojan War, and on the other side it shows the return of Hephaestus to Mount Olympus after being banished. He is riding a mule or donkey. Band five shows sphinxes and griffins, mythological hybrid creatures, and at the foot of the vase a battle between pygmies and cranes is depicted. The handles are also decorated with paintings of the Mistress of Animals - a winged goddess - and a picture of Ajax carrying the wounded Achilles. The Francois Vase is in a museum in Florence, Italy.
Exekias was one of the most successful and well-known painters of black-figured vases and cups. The Dionysus cup is one of his most famous works. The cup depicts in its interior the god Dionysus reclining in a small boat. The mast of the boat has turned into a grapevine and is sprouting grapes. In the sea around the boat, dolphins leap and swim. This vase illustrates the story of Dionysus' escape from pirates who were planning to kidnap him and sell him into slavery. He foiled them by magically turning the mast into a grapevine, which frightened the pirates away. The cup is in a museum in Munich, Germany.
Exekias also made another famous black-figured amphora that is now in the Vatican museum. It depicts Achilles and Ajax playing a dice game, during a lull in the Trojan War. The two heroes are fully armored, and their spears are at hand, but they lean over a small table and call out the numbers on the dice. The Greek words for three and four scroll out of their mouths, like in a comic book. Exekias rendered the details of their clothing and hair with precise incisions through the black slip.