Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Unknown Artist
second quarter of the 5th century 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
2011.604.1.2587
Art Historical Context
This terracotta fragment from a kylix, or shallow drinking cup, hails from Attic Greece in the second quarter of the 5th century BCE, during the height of the Classical period. Produced in Athens, the epicenter of ancient Greek pottery, 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 entertainment. Though only a fragment survives, it offers a tantalizing glimpse into everyday luxury and artistry from over 2,500 years ago. Attic vases from this era are renowned for their re...