Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Unknown Artist
470–450 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
2011.604.1.165
Art Historical Context
This delicate terracotta fragment from a kylix, a shallow drinking cup popular in ancient Greece, dates to the Classical period (470–450 BCE). Hailing from Attic workshops near Athens—the epicenter of Greek pottery production—it offers a glimpse into everyday life during the height of Athenian democracy and cultural flourishing. Kylikes like this were essential for symposia, lively social gatherings where men reclined, drank wine mixed with water, and engaged in philosophical debates, poetry, and games. Crafted from fired clay, the fragment exemplifies Attic vase-making techniques, where pott...