Terracotta fragments of kylikes (drinking cups)

Art Historical Context

These terracotta fragments from kylikes—shallow, stemmed drinking cups—offer a glimpse into ancient Attic Greek life during the Archaic and Classical periods (6th–5th centuries BCE). in Athens, the heart of Greek pottery innovation, these pieces belong to a vibrant tradition of wheel-thrown terracotta vases. Kylikes were essential for symposia, elite male drinking parties where philosophy, poetry, and politics flowed alongside wine, often diluted in these elegant vessels. Artistically, Attic potters mastered techniques like black-figure (incised figures against a glossy black background) and ...