Playing with clay

This larnax, like many others, is made of clay. When baked, it becomes terracotta. Clay was widely used for pottery in Aegean Greece, but clay coffins have a long tradition on the island of Crete as well. Because of its flexibility, the soft material can be shaped easily, but when sun-dried or baked, it becomes solid and firm. This makes it a great material for things like coffins.

You may wonder how such a large object was made and baked. If so, dive into the extension before moving on to the next step.