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
2011.604.5.641a, b
Art Historical Context
These delicate terracotta rim fragments fromikes, or drinking cups, offer a glimpse into the vibrant life of ancient Attic Greece during the Archaic and Classical periods (6th–5th centuries BCE). Kylikes were essential vessels in symposia—elegant drinking parties where men gathered to discuss philosophy, poetry, and politics. Crafted in Attica, the heart of classical Greek pottery production, these cups were typically wide and shallow, designed for easy handling while reclining, with interiors often painted with intricate scenes visible when raised to the lips. Though only fragments survive, ...