Terracotta fragment of a column-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
Unknown Artist
450–430 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Classical
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Dietrich von Bothmer, Distinguished Research Curator, Greek and Roman Art, 2011
Accession Number
2011.604.2.379
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of Classical Athens with this terracotta fragment from a column-krater, a mixing bowl for wine and water used during symposia—lively social gatherings where elites debated philosophy, poetry, and politics around 450–430 BCE. Crafted in Attic Greece during the height of the city's golden age under Pericles, this vessel exemplifies the ingenuity of anonymous potters and painters who turned everyday pottery into canvases of storytelling. Terracotta, fired clay valued for its durability and fine detail, allowed artisans to create these functional yet artistic wares. Co...