Chian and Naucratite

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Abstract
The fine white-slipped pottery decorated in a lively East Greek style which was first found in quantity at Naucratis in Egypt was soon dubbed ‘Naucratite’ and considered the local product of Greek craftsmen. Subsequent excavations on the island of Chios showed that the same pottery and the same techniques were known there from Late Geometric times, long before the Greek settlement at Naucratis, and more recent excavations there have made the Chian character of the pottery even clearer, and have carried the story on into Hellenistic times. The pottery was promptly therefore rechristened ‘Chian’. Dissenting voices have, however, been raised in support of the theory that Chian daughter-factories in Naucratis produced fine pottery for dedication there, particularly those vases embellished with inscriptions which had been painted before their firing and which named both dedicator and deity. This factor has complicated the issue far more than the Arkesilas Vase did the similar problem of ‘Cyrenaic’ and Laconian vases, which was neatly solved by the British excavations at Sparta. But there are also other complicating factors, some of which have not been openly discussed as yet, which it is my purpose to record here.

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