Terracotta kylix (drinking cup)
ca. 350 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
3 5/8in. (9.2cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Late Classical
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1906
Accession Number
06.1021.186
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate terracotta kylix, or drinking cup, was created around 350 BCE in Athens by the Jena Painter during Greece’s Late Classical period. As an Attic vessel only 3⅝ inches high, it was designed for use at symposia, the convivial gatherings where Athenian men discussed philosophy, politics, and poetry over diluted wine. Its compact form and refined proportions reflect the period’s emphasis on elegance and balance in everyday objects. The cup’s painted decoration includes Eros, horses, and chariots—motifs that evoke themes of love, movement, and divine favor frequently encountered in Gre...