Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Unknown Artist
440–420 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · 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
2011.604.1.7861
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of Classical Athens with this terracotta fragment from a kylix, a shallow drinking cup popular at symposia—lively social gatherings where elite men reclined, debated philosophy, and enjoyed wine. Dating to 440–420, this Attic Greek artifact captures the height of the Classical period, an era of unparalleled artistic refinement following the Persian Wars and amid Athens' golden age of democracy and cultural flourishing. Crafted from terracotta, the fired clay medium ubiquitous in ancient Greek vase-painting, this piece exemplifies the technical mastery of Attic pott...