Terracotta siphon
Unknown Artist
6th century BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
H. 6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Lydian · Archaic
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of The American Society for the Exploration of Sardis, 1914
Accession Number
14.30.21
Art Historical Context
This charming terracotta siphon, to the 6th century BCE, hails from the ancient Lydian culture in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey). Standing just 6 5/8 inches (16.8 cm) tall, it exemplifies the Archaic period's blend of everyday utility and skilled craftsmanship. Excavated near Sardis—the opulent capital of Lydia, famed for its wealth and King Croesus—this vessel was generously gifted to the Metropolitan Museum of Art 1914 by the Society for the Exploration ofis. Classified among Greek and Roman vases, this object is no ordinary storage jar; it's a functional siphon, a marvel of early hydraulic e...