Terracotta fragments of kylikes (drinking cups)

Art Historical Context

These terracotta fragments hail from ancient Attic kylikes—shallow, stemmed drinking cups central to Greek symposia, lively social gatherings where wine flowed and ideas were debated. Crafted in Athens during the 6th 5th centuries BCE they bridge the Archaic and Classical periods, a golden age when Greek pottery reached extraordinary heights of technical skill and storytelling. Though incomplete, these pieces evoke the vibrant world of everyday elite life, mythology, and heroism often depicted on such vessels. Attic terracotta vases like these were fired in kilns to create iconic black-figure or red-figure techniques, where clay's natural red tone contrasted with glossy black slip painted in intricate scenes. The kylikes' wide, low bowls allowed drinkers to admire artwork while sipping, blending utility with artistry. Exported across the Mediterranean, they spread Greek culture far and wide, serving as cultural ambassadors. Generously gifted to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2011 by Dietrich von Bothmer, these fragments offer a tangible link to antiquity's ingenuity, reminding us how fragile yet enduring ancient creativity remains.