A Greek Bronze Vase

When we think of Greek vases we generally have in mind Greek pottery, which has survived in quantity. Clay, one of the most perishable of materials, becomes one of the most indestructible in the firing. In fact, much of our knowledge of ancient civilizations is derived from the potsherds that are found in successive layers on ancient sites; a pot, once fired, may break into a hundred pieces, but each piece survives practically intact without disintegrating. Bronze vases, on the other hand, though they were also widely used in antiquity and were less breakable than terracotta, have mostly disappeared; for bronze is apt to corrode and the metal can be melted down and reused.