The ancient city was a city of clay. From architectural terracotta on the roofs of houses and temples to underground sewer pipes, Athenian potters used earth and fire to produce everything a home needs, both the most down-to-earth and the most exquisite. Craftsmen transformed natural resources into useful pottery for their communities to use in their homes or as offerings in sanctuaries or tombs. The potters knew the properties of different types of clay and adapted their wheels to the production of fine ceramics with extremely thin walls and cookware with first-class thermal properties. Illustration created for Desperta Ferro Arqueología e Historia n.º 44 La Atenas de Pericles.