Terracotta rim fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Unknown Artist
5th century BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Archaic/Classical
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
2011.604.1.1981
Art Historical Context
This delicate terracotta rim fragment from kylix, a shallow drinking cup popular in ancient Greece, offers a glimpse into the refined world of 5th-century BCE Attic society. Dating to the Archaic/Classical transition, hails from Athens, the epicenter of Greek pottery production, where such vessels were essential for symposia—lively social gatherings of men sharing wine, philosophy, and poetry. Though only a fragment survives, its curved profile hints at the elegant form of the kylix, designed for easy handling while reclining. Attic terracotta vases like this one represent a pinnacle of ancie...