Terracotta skyphos (deep drinking cup)
ca. 470 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
H. with handles 5 13/16 in. (14.8 cm); width with handles 10 15/16 in. (27.8 cm); diameter of bowl 7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Classical
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Fletcher Fund, 1956
Accession Number
56.171.59
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of Classical Athens with this elegant terracotta skyphos a deep drinking cup crafted around 470 BCE by the Lewis Painter, a skilled Attic vase painter. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's and Roman Art Department (quired via the Fletcher Fund 1956), this exemplifies the refined artistry of early Classical Greece. Measuring just 5 13/16 inches high with handles and a bowl diameter of 7 1/4 inches, its compact form belies its cultural weight as a sympotic essential—perfect for sharing wine at lively gatherings. Terracotta, fired clay painted with mineral pigments, allowed Attic potters like the Lewis Painter to create durable yet beautifully decorated wares. Skyphoi like this one often featured scenes from mythology, and its Dionysus tag evokes the wine god himself, patron of revelry and the symposium. This connection underscores the cup's role in everyday rituals blending social bonding, philosophy, and divine inspiration. As a testament to Athens' golden age, this skyphos captures the harmony of form and function, where utility met storytelling. Visitors, imagine sipping nectar from it amid ancient feasts— a portal to the gods!