Terracotta fragment of an oinochoe (jug)
Unknown Artist
late 6th/early 5th centuries 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
2011.604.3.2765
Art Historical Context
This delicate terracotta fragment from an oinochoe, or wine jug, hails from Attic Greece during the Archaic period (late 6th to 5th century BCE Oinochoai were essential vessels in ancient symposia—lively social gatherings where men drank wine mixed with water, fostering philosophy, poetry, and camaraderie. Crafted in vibrant terracotta, this piece exemplifies the everyday artistry of Athenian potters, whose wares were both functional and beautifully decorated, often with black-figure or emerging red-figure techniques that captured myths, heroes, and daily life. Though only a fragment survives...