In many ways, Greek ancient vases are not much different from the art of many other old societies. Rather than simply being made to contain water, grain, or whatever else, they also serve a narrative function. The ancient Greek vases would contain pictures of battles, fantastic retellings of mythology, or other similar motifs. The artwork would be regular and formulaic, but it also would have an elegant style and an exquisite attention to detail. As a decorative touch, it would add music and color to the day-to-day lives of ordinary people in an age before the invention of television and radio.