Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup) or a skyphos (deep drinking cup)?
Unknown Artist
late 6th/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
2011.604.3.1931
Art Historical Context
This terracotta fragment, likely from a kylix or skyphos—a shallow or deep drinking cup used in ancient Greek symposia— a glimpse into Attic life during the late Archaic period (late6th to early 5th century). Crafted in the renowned pottery workshops of Athens, it exemplifies the everyday elegance of Greek vases, which served both practical and social purposes. These vessels were central to communal drinking parties, where elites reclined, conversed, and enjoyed wine mixed with water, fostering bonds and philosophical exchange. Attic terracotta vases from this era mark a pivotal moment in cer...