Krater
Unknown Artist
1050–950 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
8in. (20.3cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Cypriot · Cypro-Geometric I
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
Accession Number
74.51.612
Art Historical Context
This delicate terracotta krater, to the Cypro-Geometric I period1050–950 BCE hails from ancient Cyprus during the early Iron Age—a time of cultural transition following the Bronze Age collapse. Standing just 8 inches (20.3 cm) tall, it exemplifies the modest yet functional pottery of Cypriot artisans, who were developing a distinctive geometric style amid influences from neighboring Aegean and Near Eastern cultures. As part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Greek Roman Art Department, it a window into Cyprus's vibrant island society, where such vessels played key roles in daily life and ritu...