Editing Minoan civilization (section)

===Pottery===
{{Main|Minoan pottery}}
Many different styles of potted wares and techniques of production are observable throughout the history of Crete. Early Minoan ceramics were characterized by patterns of [[spiral]]s, [[triangle]]s, curved lines, [[cross]]es, [[fish bone]]s, and beak-spouts. However, while many of the artistic motifs are similar in the Early Minoan period, there are many differences that appear in the reproduction of these techniques throughout the island which represent a variety of shifts in taste as well as in power structures.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Minoans: Life in Bronze Age|last=Castleden|first=Rodney|publisher=Routledge|year=1993|pages=106}}</ref> There were also many small [[terracotta]] figurines.

During the Middle Minoan period, naturalistic designs (such as fish, squid, birds and lilies) were common. In the Late Minoan period, flowers and animals were still characteristic but more variety existed. However, in contrast to later [[Ancient Greek vase painting]], paintings of human figures are extremely rare,<ref>Hood (1978), 34, 42, 43</ref> and those of land mammals not common until late periods. Shapes and ornament were often borrowed from metal tableware that has largely not survived, while painted decoration probably mostly derives from frescos.<ref>Hood (1978), 27</ref>