Terracotta fragments of kylikes (drinking cups)

Art Historical Context

These terracotta fragments from kylikes, or shallow drinking cups, hail from Attic Greece around 510–500 BCE, during the late Archaic. Crafted by an unknown potter-painter, they exemplify the exquisite black-figure technique prevalent in Athens at the time, where figures were incised through a glossy black slip to reveal the red clay beneath. Kylikes like these were essential for symposia—lively social gatherings where elite men reclined, drank wine, and discussed philosophy, politics, and poetry. Though incomplete, these shards offer a glimpse into the vibrant world of Archaic Greek pottery, a cornerstone of ancient art renowned for its technical mastery and narrative flair. Attic vases were not just functional vessels but cultural exports, traded across the Mediterranean and adorning tombs or homes. Their designs often depicted mythological heroes, athletes, or revelers, blending daily life with epic tales. Generously gifted to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2011 by Dietrich von Bothmer, a legendary curator of Greek and Roman art, these fragments invite us to piece together the ingenuity of ancient artisans and the rituals that shaped classical civilization.