Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
mid-6th century BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Laconian · 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
2011.604.9.5
Art Historical Context
This terracotta fragment of alix, or drinking cup, offers a glimpse into the vibrant world of Archaic Greek pottery from the mid-6th century BCE. Created in the Laconian region of ancient Greece—associated with Sparta—the piece reflects the cultural importance of communal drinking rituals known as symposia. Such vessels were not merely functional but served as canvases for artistic expression, often exchanged as gifts or used in elite gatherings to foster social bonds. Attributed to the Rider Painter, a notable figure in Laconian vase painting, the fragment highlights the distinctive black-fi...