Anthropomorphic ceramic containers

Anthropomorphic imagery has always been seen as the main instrument of myths, tales and legends. The depictions that emerged as personified form of dreams, fears or abstract concepts of the ancient people are the most common ones. Anthropomorphic imagery allows us to look ourselves from another perspective. So they appear us often as a personification of reflection of a good or the bad side of mankind or natural events. Neolithic period people made mother goddess figurines for religious beliefs that started at the beginning of prehistoric period. As it is easy to find clay in daily life, it has been the main material for production. Terracotta figurines they produced are believed to have magical powers, and later idols appeared by anthropomorphic containers. This anthropomorphic containers have generally been produced in the form of female imagery. This containers are often used as offering containers in religious rituals, increasing function has entered into every area of daily life. Today, it continues to be the subject by artists without losing its popularity. In this study, on the one hand anthropomorphism's universal concepts and descriptions in religion, myth, science and art has been examined, on the other hand its reflection of cultural influences in artwork has been investigated. This study that aimed to be a source for my ceramic works by obtaining evidence consists of four chapters. In the first chapter, the general definition of anthropomorphism, its history and its explanation in religion, science, mythology and art; in the second chapter its reflection on ceramics; in the third chapter today's ceramic art's approach with examples to this issue; and in the fourth chapter practices on the subject takes place. Because anthropomorphism is a broad concept encompassing animals, objects, real or fantastic beings aswell, only the human shape forms are examined. It has encountered many forms of anthropomorphic examples of ceramic pots and descriptions, therefore anthropomorphic containers were evaluated mainly in Anatolia. While written and visual sources as well as online resources forming the textual part of the thesis, personal acquisitions concurrently with this study was interpreted as ceramic forms.