Terracotta kylix (drinking cup)
ca. 480 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
H. 5 3/16 in. (13.2 cm) width with handles 15 3/8 (39.1 cm) diameter 12 1/16 in. (30.7 cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Classical
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1953
Accession Number
53.11.4
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant terracotta kylix, crafted around 480 BCE by the Briseis Painter, exemplifies the refined artistry of Athenian vase painting during the early Classical period. As a drinking cup used in symposia—social gatherings of elite Greek men—it would have been passed among guests, its interior and exterior scenes gradually revealed as wine was consumed. The vessel’s balanced proportions and delicate handles highlight the technical mastery of Attic potters, who shaped and fired terracotta to create durable yet graceful forms for both daily use and artistic display. The kylix’s decoration dra...