Attica is an ancient region in southeastern Greece and is currently one of the 13 administrative regions of modern Greece. According to the Roman geographer Pausanias, who lived in the 2nd century CE, Attica was named after Attis, the daughter of Cranaus, a mythological king of Athens. Products made in Attica and exported worldwide are known as ‘Attic products.’ Particularly notable are the Attic ceramics, renowned for their exceptional quality and exquisite decoration, which were widely used during the 6th-4th centuries BCE (Persian period). Attic pottery was exported throughout the ancient Near East.
There are two main types of decorations on Attic pottery:
- Black-Figure Technique: This older technique features red pots with black-painted figures, often with additional details in white.
- Red-Figure Technique: This later technique involves painting the pots black and leaving spaces unpainted to form red figures, with further details added in black.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/place/Attica-ancient-district-Greece
https://anticopedie.fr/mondes/mondes-gb/attique-ceramique.html