Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Unknown Artist
520–510 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
2011.604.1.8225
Art Historical Context
This terracotta fragment from a kylix, a shallow drinking cup popular in ancient Greece, dates to the late Archaic period (520–510 BCE). Hailing from Attica, the region around Athens—a hub of pottery innovation—this piece exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of Greek vase-makers during a time of artistic transition. Kylikes were essential for symposia, elegant male drinking parties where philosophy, poetry, and politics mingled over wine, often decorated with vivid scenes from mythology or daily life. Though only a fragment survives, it reflects the technical mastery of Attic potters worki...