Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
500–490 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
2011.604.1.5381
Art Historical Context
This terracotta fragment of a kylix, created by the Colmar Painter around 500–490 BCE, offers a glimpse into the refined world of ancient Athenian ceramics during the late Archaic period. Kylixes were shallow, stemmed drinking cups central to Greek symposia—lively social gatherings where men discussed philosophy, recited poetry, and enjoyed wine. Produced in Attica, the region surrounding Athens, such vessels were prized for their elegant forms and narrative decorations, often exported across the Mediterranean as symbols of Greek cultural sophistication. The Colmar Painter, active in this tra...