Pottery is a key to our understanding of many ancient cultures. In this edition, Dr Williams traces the development of Greek painted pottery from its first moments around 6000BC, through its finest years at Athens, until its eventual decline in the 2nd century BC. He describes how Greek vases were made and introduced us to individual artists, both potters and painters. The text shows the changes that have occurred in a very traditional craft, some inspired by artistic or commercial considerations, others brought about by social or political events.