Terracotta rim fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Unknown Artist
500–470 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Archaic/Early 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
2011.604.1.8823
Art Historical Context
This terracotta rim fragment from alix—a shallow, stemless drinking cup—offers a glimpse into the refined world of ancient Attic Greece, dated to 500–470 BCE.addling the Archaic and Early Classical periods, it from Athens, the epicenter of Greek pottery production. Kylikes like this were staples of the *symposion*, elite male drinking parties where philosophy, poetry, and politics flowed alongside wine. Though only a rim survives, its smooth curve hints at the vessel's elegant form, crafted on a potter's wheel and fired in a kiln for durability. Attic vases from this era represent a pinnacle ...