Terracotta fragments of kylikes (drinking cups)
Unknown Artist
5th century BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Archaic/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
2011.604.1.1425a–d
Art Historical Context
These terracotta fragments from 5th-century BCE Attic kylikes offer a tantalizing glimpse into ancient Greek social life. Kylikes were wide, shallow drinking cups designed for the symposion—a ritualized gathering of men for wine, conversation, and intellectual exchange. Crafted in Athens during the transition from Archaic to Classical periods, these vessels reflect the pinnacle of Greek pottery production, when Attic workshops exported wares across the Mediterranean, spreading Hellenic culture far and wide. Made from fired clay, terracotta was prized for its durability and versatility, allowi...