Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Unknown Artist
520–500 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Archaic
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
2011.604.1.1163
Art Historical Context
This terracotta fragment from a kylix, or shallow drinking cup, dates to late Archaic period (520–500 BCE) hails from Attic Greece, the heart of ancient Athens. Produced during a vibrant era of cultural flourishing, such vases were everyday essentials transformed into artistic treasures. Though only a fragment survives, it offers a glimpse into the sophisticated pottery workshops of Athens, where potters and painters collaborated to create vessels for symposia—lively social gatherings of drinking, conversation, and philosophy. Kylixes like this one were designed for easy handling during these...