Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Unknown Artist
late 6th century/early 5th century
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
2011.604.1.5942
Art Historical Context
This terracotta fragment from a kylix, or shallow drinking cup, hails from Attic Greece during the late Archaic period (late 6th to early 5th century). Produced in Athens, the heart of ancient Greek pottery-making, kylikes like this were essential for symposia—lively social gatherings where elite men reclined, drank wine, and debated philosophy or recited poetry. Though only a piece survives, it evokes the vibrant world of everyday ancient life, where such vessels bridged utility and artistry. Attic terracotta vases represent a pinnacle of Archaic craftsmanship, often adorned with black- or r...