Terracotta fragment of an amphora (jar)
Unknown Artist
550–540 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
2011.604.3.156
Art Historical Context
This terracotta fragment from an Attic amphora, dating to 550–540 BCE, a glimpse into the vibrant world of Archaic Greek pottery. Crafted in Athens during the height of black-figure vase painting—a technique where figures were incised into a glossy black slip before firing—amphorae like this served practical purposes as storage jars for wine, oil, or grain. Their broad bodies and handles made them ideal for trade and daily life, often exported across the Mediterranean. Though only a fragment survives, it exemplifies Attic artistry's shift toward dynamic narratives and mythological scenes, bri...