Middle Helladic

Pottery

Matt-painted pottery of the Middle Helladic period demonstrates continuity with stylistic motifs that can be traced back to the Early Helladic Period and even other Aegean cultures. Patterns like oblique lines, zigzags, lozenges, running dogs, spiraliforme, and circles and triangles alternating one another beneath the rim on Middle Helladic pottery have been found to be inspired by Cycladic pottery motifs. Spiraliforme and griffon motifs can also be traced back to Crete. However, patterns like lozenges and pendent-style triangles on matt-painted pottery are a continuation of stylistic motifs from the Early Helladic period, and the addition of vertical fringed lines on pottery is a novel advancement of the Middle Helladic period. With the majority of designs and motifs on Middle Helladic pottery being Cycladic in influence, it can be assumed that the Middle Helladic culture and Cycladic culture interacted with one another heavily.