Pithos. Knossos.

Pithos (plural pithoi) is the ancient Greek word for a large storage jar of a characteristic shape.  Many pithoi were excavated in the Palace of Knossos in Greece. Pithoi were almost universally made of clay, an ideal material that kept out water, dirt, insects and rodents.  Most were as tall or taller than a human being (excerpted from Wikipedia).

…but to us the word “PITHOS”  evokes “Raki”, “Tsipouro”, “Tzatziki” and the time we have spent in Greece with some amazing traditional potters.

Again, the Eye of the Day difference shows.  Not at all satisfied with ordering Greek pottery from a representative or sales person in the U.S., on the Internet Brent located a gentleman willing to meet and show us a traditional factory and the pottery produced there using ancient methods and designs.  Another traveling, finding, seeing, soak-up-the-food/drink/culture adventure! No problem.

Something we love about Greek pottery is its unique buff color.  And… the potters are true artisans.  Each potter has one or two styles they make, everyone specializes, and in the older factories the potters wheel may even be powered by foot, sometimes a pair of someone else’s hands as well.  No two vessels will ever be identical.  After the work is done, these clay-encrusted, hard-working people clean up (amazingly well!) and spend the rest of their hours, well into the night entertaining us with food, homemade wine, raki and tsipouro and traditional music in their local taverna and their homes.  Aahh… Another home, sweet home for us.

Now when you see our Greek pottery, you’ll admire everything about it even more.  Oh, and the Pithos is not the only shape, by the way.  Multitudes of sizes, styles and unpronounceable names are available at Eye of the Day, and at www.eyeofthedaygdc.com.  We only hope you aren’t needing any Pithoi to keep out insects and rodents.