Terracotta fragments of kylikes (drinking cups)
Unknown Artist
500–475 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Archaic/Early 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
2011.604.1.3474a–c
Art Historical Context
These terracotta fragments from kylikes—shallow, two-handled drinking cups—offer a glimpse into everyday luxury in ancient Attic Greece around 500–475 BCE, spanning the Archaic to Early Classical periods. Crafted in the vibrant hub of Athens, these vessels were essential for symposia, intimate social gatherings where elite men shared wine, philosophy, and poetry. Though incomplete, the fragments evoke the refined pottery tradition of Attica, renowned for its technical mastery and widespread export across the Mediterranean. Terracotta, fired clay, was the medium of choice for such vases, allow...