Terracotta rim fragments of a skyphos (deep drinking cup)
Unknown Artist
early 5th century 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
2011.604.3.1420a, b
Art Historical Context
These delicate terracotta rim fragments come from a skyphos, a deep two-handled drinking cup popular in ancient Greece for symposia—lively social gatherings where wine flowed and ideas were shared. Crafted in Attic Greece during the early 5th century BCE, the Archaic period's final flourish, this piece reflects the height of Athenian pottery production. Attic workshops were renowned worldwide, exporting vases that blended utility with artistry, often adorned with black-figure or emerging red-figure techniques that showcased mythological scenes, daily life, or athletic prowess. Though only fra...