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
2011.604.1.3675
Art Historical Context
This delicate terracotta fragment from a kylix, or shallow drinking cup, hails from Attic Greece in the second quarter of the 5th century BCE, the height of the Classical period.ed by an unknown artist, it exemplifies the masterful pottery tradition of ancient Athens, where vases like this were not just functional but also canvases for storytelling through intricate designs. Though only a piece survives, it evokes the vibrant world of symposia—lively social gatherings where elite men reclined, drank wine mixed with water, and engaged in philosophy, poetry, and revelry. Attic terracotta vases,...