Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Unknown Artist
490–470 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Late Archaic/Early 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
2011.604.1.4364
Art Historical Context
This terracotta fragment from a kylix, a shallow drinking cup popular in ancient Greece, dates to the Late Archaic/Early Classical period (490–470 BCE).ed in Attic style from Athens, the heart of Greek pottery production, it offers a glimpse into the refined artistry of the time. Kylikes were essential for symposia—lively social gatherings where elite men reclined, drank wine mixed with water, and engaged in philosophical discussions, poetry, and games. Though only a fragment survives, it evokes the everyday elegance of these vessels, often lavishly decorated to delight the eye from above when...