Terracotta fragment of a stemless kylix (drinking cup)
Unknown Artist
mid-5th century 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
2011.604.1.8635
Art Historical Context
This terracotta fragment from a stemless kylix, or drinking cup, hails from Attic Greece in the mid-5th BCE, the heart of Classical period. Produced in Athens, the epicenter of ancient Greek pottery, these vessels were essential for symposia—lively social gatherings where men reclined, drank wine, and debated philosophy or poetry. Stemless kylikes like this one were practical yet elegant, their wide, shallow bowls ideal for mixing and sipping diluted wine, often resting flat on tables. Crafted from fired clay, the fragment showcases the masterful techniques of Attic vase-makers, who wheel-thr...