Terracotta rim fragments of a kylix (drinking cup)
510–500 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · 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
2011.604.1.1077a, b
Art Historical Context
These terracotta rim fragments come from a kylix, the elegant two-handled drinking cup central to ancient Greek social life. Created in Athens around 510–500 BCE during the late Archaic period, the vessel was painted by the artist known as the Poseidon Painter. Though only the rim survives, the fragments reveal the refined shapes and decorative traditions of Attic pottery, which combined functional design with narrative imagery. In Greek culture, kylikes played a key role in symposia, the lively gatherings where men drank wine, discussed philosophy, and enjoyed performances. The cup’s wide, s...