Terracotta fragment of a skyphos (deep drinking cup)
Unknown Artist
490–480 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Late 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
2011.604.2.1260
Art Historical Context
This delicate terracotta fragment from a skyphos—a deep, two-handled drinking cup—offers a glimpse into the vibrant world of Late Archaic Athens around 490–480 BCE. Crafted in the Attic style, renowned for its technical mastery and aesthetic refinement, this piece hails from the final flourish of the Archaic period, just before the Classical era's triumphs. Skyphoi like this were everyday luxuries, essential for symposia where elite men gathered to drink wine, discuss philosophy, and celebrate life amid the looming Persian Wars. Terracotta vases were the canvas of ancient Greek artistry, whee...