Terracotta rim fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Unknown Artist
490–480 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Late Archaic
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
2011.604.1.1202
Art Historical Context
This delicate terracotta rim fragment from kylix, or shallow drinking cup, hails from Attic Greece around 490–480 BCE, during the Late Archaic period. Craft in Athens, the epicenter of ancient Greek pottery production, kylikes like this were essential for symposia—ively social gatherings where elite men reclined, drank wine, and debated philosophy or recited poetry. Though only a rim survives, it hints at the vessel's graceful form, designed for easy handling while revealing intricate decorations below. Terracotta vases from this era showcase masterful wheel-throwing techniques, fired in kiln...