Terracotta fragments of kylikes (drinking cups)

Art Historical Context

These terracotta fragments from kylikes—shallow, two-handled drinking cups—offer a glimpse into everyday life in ancient Attica during the 5th century BCE, spanning the Archaic and Classical periods of Greek art. Crafted by an unknown potter-painter, these pieces belong to the vibrant tradition of Attic vase-making, where pottery served both practical and artistic purposes. Kylikes were essential at symposia, elite male drinking parties that fostered philosophy, poetry, and social bonds, often featuring intricate painted scenes (though the specific imagery on these fragments remains partially obscured). The medium of terracotta, fired clay, highlights the technical mastery of Greek potters, who achieved durability and fine detail through wheel-throwing and slip decoration. In the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Greek and Roman Art Department, these fragments exemplify how even broken artifacts preserve cultural history, revealing trade, workshops, and stylistic evolution from bold Archaic forms to the refined elegance of Classical Greece. Generously gifted in 2011 by Dietrich von Bothmer, a leading scholar of ancient vases, they underscore the enduring value of such shards in reconstructing the ancient world. (198 words)