Terracotta fragment of a neck-amphora (jar)
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
2011.604.3.285
Art Historical Context
This terracotta fragment from a neck-amphora, dating to 520–510 BCE, offers a glimpse into the vibrant world of Archaic Attic Greek pottery. Crafted in Athens during the late Archaic period, neck-amphoras were elegant two-handled jars designed for storing and transporting olive oil or wine—essentials of ancient Greek life. As a fragment, it survives from a once-complete vessel, highlighting the fragility of these everyday luxury items that doubled as canvases for storytelling through decoration. Attic vases from this era represent a pinnacle of ancient ceramic artistry, where potters and pain...