In Classical Greece, terra cotta first gained importance as an architectural material near 1200 B.C., when temples and other structures were enriched with terra cotta roof tiles, floor coverings and wall decorations.
By 575 B.C., terra cotta materials were used profusely throughout the Roman Empire, from building structures and decorative architectural elements to floor and wall tiles and pottery.
Lewis, Brenda Ralph, Great Civilizations: Dempsey Par Publications, UK 1999
