Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Unknown Artist
500–480 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
2011.604.1.6319
Art Historical Context
This terracotta fragment from a kylix, a shallow drinking cup popular in ancient Greece around 500–480 BCE, offers a glimpse into the vibrant of Attic pottery during the late Archaic period. Crafted in Athens, the heart of Greek ceramic production, such kylikes were essential for symposia—lively social gatherings where men reclined, drank wine mixed with water, and engaged in philosophical debates, poetry, and games. Though only a fragment survives, it exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of Attic workshops, where potters and painters collaborated to create functional yet artistic vessels. ...