Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Unknown Artist
510–500 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
2011.604.1.5991
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of Archaic Greece with this terracotta fragment from a kylix, a shallow cup popular at symposia—lively social gatherings where elite men reclined, drank wine, and debated philosophy or recited poetry. Dating to 510–500, this Attic piece captures the tail end of the Archaic period (c. 800–480 BCE), a time when Athens emerged as a cultural powerhouse, renowned for its innovative pottery that blended functionality with exquisite artistry. Crafted from fired clay, the fragment exemplifies Attic vase-making techniques, likely featuring the black-figure style—where figur...