The meander is a very common motif in ancient Greek art, which can be seen in pottery, jewelry, and numerous other items. The motif can be see on jewelry as early as the Mycenaean period, and continued through the classical period. A study of this decorative design could lead to a better understanding of the ancient Greek culture.

The word meander comes from the Greek word ‘μεμεάγρα’ meaning “to flow along.” This name was given to this specific motif because it resembles the path of a winding river. The meander design consists of a series of interconnected S-shaped lines that form an ornamental band or border. The design can be traced back to ancient Greece in art history and has been found in pottery, mosaics, figurines and jewelry, which has helped archaeologists to date different pieces and artifacts found throughout Greece.

The meander was used by ancient Greek artists as a way to fill empty space in a number of different works of art. It was often used to decorate borders around paintings and other pieces of artwork or pottery that were used for decoration or religious purposes. The meander pattern is also sometimes referred to as an “Greek key”

Meander is an ancient Greek artistic motif in the form of a continuous line, created by a repeated basic design. It was developed during the Hellenistic period [c. 300 BC-c. AD 300] and found extensive use in ancient Greece, notably on stone floors and walls, but also on steles, vases, and other objects.

Trellis: a framework formed by a horizontal bar with spaced vertical uprights__

Meander is a term used to describe a design motif that was used in ancient Greek art. The word meander is derived from the Greek word “μαίανδρος (meandros)” which means “winding”. Although meander patterns are most often seen in Greek art, they were also used in other civilizations such as Roman, Etruscan and Celtic.

The meander pattern has been found on many types of objects. It was often carved on architectural elements such as pillars, friezes and floors. Some of these decorative designs were created using slip or clay molds. Meanders could also be woven into baskets or added to pottery. In addition to being painted or woven into fabric, meanders could be carved into stone or wood.*

The meander pattern is a decorative device found in ancient Greek art. It is a border design that incorporates continuous lines that wend their way like a stream or river, forming an endless loop.

The meander pattern was used on pottery and other items as far back as the Minoan civilization, although the earliest known use of this pattern was in the Neolithic period, from circa 4000 BC.

The design was also used in ancient Greece to form borders around ceramics and other ornamentation, as well as for its ornamental value, mainly in black figure and red figure pottery.

In ancient Greece it was also used as a seascape pattern on vases when depicting sailboats.

The design may have originated in Egypt or Mesopotamia, as early examples of meander patterns have been found on Egyptian pottery dating from around 3500 BC.

“Meander” is the name given to a recurring motif in Greek art. The design, most commonly used during the Classical and Hellenistic periods, consists of multiple lines following a curving path, often resembling the course of a river. The word itself is derived from the ancient Greek “μέανδρος” (meandros), meaning “winding” or “curved”.

The meander is an artistic motif consisting of a repeated pattern of curved lines flowing in a sinuous design, such as found in frets, traditional rugs and tattoos. A meander is created when one line is followed by another line which has a gap and then repeats the same path but in the opposite direction. The path of meanders can be either left-right or right-left, but not both at once.

Meanders appear frequently in Ancient Greek art from the 6th century BC onward; examples may be seen in architectural decorations on friezes, vases, and pottery. The meander pattern was apparently so common that some examples now appear to be made without much thought.[1] It was woven into clothing and jewellery as well as carved into walls and monuments.

Historians

The meander is one of the most widespread motifs in the decorative art of ancient Greece. It usually consists of a continuous line, which winds around a central point or turns back on itself, forming a labyrinthine design. The word “meander” comes from the Greek word “μανδύας”, “Mándyas”, meaning “the pattern formed by snake-like movement”.

The meander takes its name from its most famous location: on the borders of the Nile and near the mouth of the river where it empties into the Mediterranean Sea. The term was extended to describe any winding decorative design in a single plane, including designs such as those found on Greek pottery or those used later in Roman mosaic decorations.

The meander is also seen in ancient Minoan and Mycenaean culture; for example, it is found in the palace of Knossos.

The meander symbolized infinity, and the patterns were used in all sorts of ways to convey this meaning. This is why you see so many variations of the meander on Greek pottery. The pattern was important to the Greeks, and many times, it was used as a border around pictures.

Students of Greek pottery can also recognize the difference between early forms of the pattern and later ones because they have seen it so often. Some meanders are created with broad strokes, while others are far more intricate. They also have different numbers of turns within the borders where they overlap.

The complicated meander patterns were created using a compass and straight edge, which is how they were able to be made into such intricate designs that are still recognizable today. The simplicity of the pattern is what helped it become so popular in Greece over time.