DISCUSSIONS ON ZEUXIPPUS WARE IN THE LIGHT OF NEW ASSESSMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS: EXAMPLES FROM THE BURSA ARCHAEOLOGY MUSEUM

Arkeoloji ve Sanat, no.182, pp.171-182, 2026 (TRDizin)

This study aims to evaluate six bowls from the collection of the Bursa Archaeological Museum.

Additionally, it seeks to re-examine the numerous answered and still unanswered questions and

discussions regarding Zeuxippus Ware, which holds a significant place in Byzantine ceramic research

and is encountered in many settlements, considering new data concerning this group. These ceramics

include various forms ranging from small bowls to plates with low or high ring-based, wide and

deep, or shallow-flat bowls and plates. The use of very bright, vibrant, transparent glaze, mostly in

shades of yellow, orange, brown, and green along with traces of tripods – a new technology of the

time used for mass production – distinguishes them easily from many Middle Byzantine Pottery. In

the decorations, where the incised technique is most frequently preferred, a decorative style prevails

that is enriched with various patterns such as floral compositions, flowers, treelets, palmettes, geometric

patterns, and birds, located in the center, body, and rim bands of the vessels, all of which are

enclosed by concentric circles. Particularly in the last two decades, this pottery group has frequently

appeared in publications among numerous excavation findings. However, when evaluating the

research conducted to date, our knowledge regarding the primary production site, the identification

of local production workshops, and the typology, distribution, and circulation of these ceramics,

which have been proven to be non-homogeneous and produced in various local workshops, is still

limited. Therefore, in addition to introducing the vessels acquired in the province of Bursa, where

Byzantine period research is relatively scarce, and preserved in the Bursa Archaeological Museum,

this study also aims to revisit the debates surrounding Zeuxippus Ware research and to offer new

proposals.