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
2011.604.2.465
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of Classical Athens with this terracotta fragment from a column-krater, a mixing bowl used at symposia—lively social gatherings where Greeks diluted wine with water for communal drinking. Dating to 450–430, this Attic piece captures the height of the Classical period, when Athens flourished as a cultural powerhouse amid democracy, philosophy, and the Parthenon's construction. Column-kraters, named for their sturdy column-shaped handles, were essential vessels for elite banquets, often adorned with intricate scenes of mythology, daily life, or heroic tales. Crafted ...