Athenian black- and red-figure pottery of the Archaic and Classical periods have enjoyed a prominent place in the history of 18th through 20th century scholarship in classical archaeology. This lecture goes beyond the pots, the scenes depicted on them, and the changing attitudes towards their interpretation, in order to focus on the makers: the potters themselves. This lecture attempts to understand who they were, how and where they worked. Many clues are offered by the scenes on the pottery itself, and this is supplemented by a re-examination of the archaeological and literary evidence. New discoveries in central Athens, however, including much unpublished material from the American excavations in the Athenian Agora, add significantly to our knowledge, particularly for the location of the Potters’ Quarter (Kerameikos) and the identity of some of the potters, both in terms of their ethnicity and gender. In reviewing this evidence, some radical revisions are suggested for the topography of early Athens. Short bibliography and/or website on lecture topic (for lay reader): J.K. Papadopoulos, Ceramicus Redivivus: The Early Iron Age Potters’ Field in the Area of the Classical Athenian Agora (Hesperia Supplement 31) (Princeton 2003) J. Camp, The Athenian Agora: Excavations in the Heart of Classical Athens (London 1986)