Terracotta fragment of a lekythos (oil flask)
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
2011.604.3.898
Art Historical Context
This delicate terracotta fragment from a lekythos, or slender oil flask, hails from Attic Greece during the late Archaic period (late th to early 5th century). Crafted by an unknown artist, exemplifies the masterful pottery traditions of ancient Athens, where such vessels were essential for everyday use and sacred rituals. Lekythoi like this one were often filled with perfumed oils and used in funerary ceremonies, gently placed in tombs as offerings to honor the deceased—a poignant reflection of Greek beliefs in the afterlife. Made from fired clay, the fragment showcases the Archaic era's inn...