Terracotta rim fragments of kylikes (drinking cups)
Unknown Artist
6th/5th centuries 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
2011.604.5.189a, b
Art Historical Context
These terracotta rim fragments from kylikes, or shallow drinking cups, hail from Attic Greece during the Archaic and Classical periods (th to 5th centuries BCE Produced in Athens, the epicenter of ancient Greek pottery, kylikes were essential for symposia—lively social gatherings where men reclined, debated philosophy, and enjoyed wine mixed with water. Even as fragments, these pieces offer a tangible glimpse into everyday elite life and the craftsmanship of the era. Terracotta, fired clay, was the medium of choice for such vessels, often adorned with intricate black-figure or red-figure pain...