Jug
Unknown Artist
600–480 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
5 3/16in. (13.2cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Cypriot · Cypro-Archaic II
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
Accession Number
74.51.556
Art Historical Context
This delicate terracotta jug, crafted by an unknown Cypriot artisan during the Cypro-Archaic II (600–480 BCE offers a glimpse into everyday life on the island of Cyprus, a vibrant cultural crossroads between the Near East, Egypt, and the emerging Greek world. Standing just 5 3/16 inches (13.2 cm) tall, this small vessel exemplifies the practical yet refined pottery produced for holding liquids like water, wine, or oil in households and rituals. Terracotta, fired clay abundant on Cyprus, was the medium of choice for such vases, shaped on a potter's wheel and often burnished for durability and ...