Because little other Archaic Greek art has survived, vases show the extent and influence of ancient Greek artists.
Little survives of ancient Greek art. Many temples and statues have been ruined because of the ravages of invaders and because of the effects of earthquakes. Paintings haven’t survived. Any objects made of wood have decomposed.
What has survived is the painting found on the earthenware, pottery, and vases used in the ancient Greeks’ everyday lives. Because we have them left to us to study the development of Greek art, the vases and vase-painting are a vital legacy.
