Terracotta fragment of a stemless kylix (drinking cup)
Unknown Artist
460–450 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Classical
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
2011.604.1.8607
Art Historical Context
This terracotta fragment from a stemless kylix, dating to 460–450 BCE, a glimpse into the refined world of Classical Attic Greece. Produced in Athens during the height of the Classical period, this drinking cup—known as a kylix—was a staple of symposia, elegant male drinking parties where diluted wine fueled philosophical debates, poetry, and socializing among the elite. Stemless kylikes like this one sat stably on low tables, their wide, shallow bowls ideal for sipping while reclining. Though only a fragment survives, it exemplifies Attic vase-making mastery in terracotta, fired clay painted...