COMMONER styles of Roman pottery were made, and many examples of these have been found of a coarser clay, and varying in color, gray, black, and yellow, or light paleish red; sometimes with a black or brown varnish. These were doubtless made for the common uses of the kitchen. The drinking-cups of this pottery often bore inscriptions, such as _Ave_, welcome; _Vivas_, live; _Bibe_, drink; _Vive, bibe multum_, live and drink much, etc. [Illustration: FIG. 24.--_Ancient German._] Pottery was undoubtedly made by the Saxons, the Scandinavians, the Gauls, and the Germans, before the coming of Roman armies and Roman potters. Of these early remains examples have been found in the _barrows_ of England, and in other excavations. M. Cleuziou published a work in 1872, "La Poterie Gauloise,"[2] warmly and strenuously claiming for the Gauls an art and a pottery before the coming of the all-grasping Romans; who, he asserts, not only stole their country, but also have claimed to be their benefactors and civilizers when they were not. I cannot, of course, discuss the question here. The engravings given (Figs. 19, 20, 21, 22, 23) are quoted by M. Figuier, from whom I take them, as examples of this early and curious work. Some of these certainly seem to indicate an inspiration original and quite different from what we see among the Romans. Later, and after the coming of the Romans, there were produced in Gaul vases and other articles, which may well be called "_Gallo-Romaine_," or _Gallic-Roman_. [Illustration: FIG. 25.--_German Pottery._] [Illustration: FIG. 26.--_German Pottery._] The GERMAN potters also produced at a very early day large quantities of pottery, which has a character of its own. That it must have been very extensively made and used is evident from the many specimens exhumed in various parts of Germany; in such numbers, indeed, that the peasantry have a profound belief they are the work of the dwarfs, and that they sprout spontaneously like mushrooms, as I have said. The examples we present are more simple than most of the Roman work, and the decoration is more severe. (Figs. 24, 25, 26.) Pots, vases, and children's toys, are also found in tombs in various parts of Germany, some of which show decided marks of art. In some of these are found the ashes of the dead, in others bones broken up, and so preserved. CHAPTER II. UNGLAZED POTTERY.--THE GREEK VASE. Palaces of Homer's Heroes.--The Ceramicus at Athens.--Egyptian Pottery.--Etruscan Tombs.--Good and Bad Vases.--Age of Vases.--Various Styles.--The Archaic Style.--The Fine Style.--Beauty a Birthright.--Aspasia's House.--Names of Vases.--The Cup of Arcesilaus.--Number of Extant Vases.--Their Uses.--The Greek Houses.--Greek Women.--Greek Men.--The Hetairai.--Etruscan Vases.