It's Greek to Me
Delighted to stand on a Greek Key patterned floor in Greece! (Zakynthos Island, 2023) The linear jig-jogging tiles that I'm standing on form what is known as a Greek Key pattern... as I learned many years ago in art history class. This is a simple one, but the repeating pattern is usually a continuous line that folds back on itself -- perhaps mimicking the flow of a meandering river with many twists and turns. I t's fascinating that the ancient design was found not only in Greece, but in many early civilizations that would not have known or seen the other's artifacts, including: Egypt, China, and Mayan carvings and architecture. They independently created their own version. Ho w ideas migrate, evolve or simply happen by coincidence, is so intriguing to me. No doubt, you've noticed similar linear patterns on pillow cases, moldings, rugs, pottery, or fashion in your own culture or surroundings. It has likely remained so popular because "the motif strikes the...