Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Unknown Artist
late 6th century BCE/early 5th century 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
2011.604.1.8133
Art Historical Context
This terracotta fragment from a kylix, a shallow drinking cup with handles popular in ancient Greek symposia, hails from Attic Greece during the late Archaic period (late th to early 5th century). Crafted by an unknown artist, it exemplifies the exquisite pottery tradition of Athens, where terracotta vessels served both practical and artistic purposes. Kylikes were essential for communal wine-drinking rituals, blending everyday utility with sophisticated decoration that often depicted myths, daily life, or athletic scenes. In the Archaic era, Attic vase-painting reached new heights of technic...