'Before Greek myths became marble, they were drawings.'

Gods and Monsters

"Gods and Monsters" is a THEA campaign celebrating the phenomenon of Ancient Greek pottery—massively influential in its own time, yet mostly overlooked today.

Amphorae, oil lamps, countless plates and goblets. Despite the fact that these objects are usually witnessed only by blurry crowds of people rushing past them in museums, we invite you to slow down, take a closer look, and discover familiar Greek myths as they appeared long before marble.

Myths Before Marble

Over the centuries, different characters appeared and disappeared on Ancient Greek vessels, but the most prominent were gods and monsters. Thrilling, intimidating, and powerful, often framed by rich ornament, these mythological figures in black and red became some of the earliest examples of graphic design—minimalist, balanced, and anatomically precise.

One of the most common objects in the ancient world—a simple piece of pottery—suddenly became far more interesting, revealing its domestic and familiar character while simultaneously portraying chaotic and often frightening events.

This is the very feeling we wanted to capture in our Gods and Monsters campaign: the contrast between the earthy terracotta background and the dramatic, unsettling figure. The magical realism—or perhaps realistic mysticism—of the editorial is rooted in that contrast.

Characters

Siren

The first character to appear, representing the “monsters,” is the hypnotizing Siren. Not the familiar little half-fish, half-princess creature, but a fierce and bloodthirsty harpy—a giant bird with a human head.

Coincidentally, sirens were among the first mythological creatures to invade Ancient Greek pottery, appearing from the beginning of the 7th century BCE. Their beautiful songs lured sailors onto rocky shores, where their ships would crash, leaving the unfortunate victims to drown and be devoured.

Our Siren reflects these qualities: mesmerizingly beautiful, covered in looted jewelry, both glorious and deadly. Like a true creature from the ancient past, an extinct wonder from a prehistoric world.

To Be Continued

The Siren is only the beginning. Over the coming weeks, three more characters will emerge from the pottery—each with their own mythology, their own jewelry, their own reading.

Return here as the campaign unfolds.