Terracotta kylix (drinking cup)
ca. 500 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
H. 3 5/8 in. (9.2 cm) diameter 9 1/4 in. (23.5 cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Archaic
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1916
Accession Number
16.174.41
Art Historical Context
The Terracotta Kylix by the Colmar Painter, created around 500 BCE in Athens, stands as a graceful example of Archaic Greek pottery. This shallow drinking cup, measuring just 3 5/8 inches high with a 9 1/4-inch diameter, was designed for use at symposia—social gatherings where Athenian men shared wine, conversation, and ideas. Produced in the Attic region, such vessels were both everyday objects and sophisticated works of art that circulated throughout the Mediterranean. Crafted from terracotta, the kylix reflects the technical mastery of Greek potters, who shaped and fired clay into durable,...