Terracotta rhyton (vase for libations or drinking) 350 BC

Editor: Here we have a terracotta rhyton, which is a vase for drinking or for libations. It was crafted around 350 BC by the Patera-Ganymede Workshop and now lives at The Met. Isn't it striking how the smooth, dark vase flows right into the rough texture of the ram's head? What do you make of the animal head, and that transition between vessel and beast? Curator: Oh, I adore these things! There's something incredibly potent about drinking from a vessel that's also a creature. Makes you feel like you’re partaking in something primordial, doesn’t it? The contrast is interesting; they used black-figure pottery to suggest it was metal and it seems like they tried to achieve maximum expression in the rendering of the head: just feel the texture, observe how meticulously the details of the ram were fashioned - horns, coat, eyes, each contribute in concert to conjure the powerful figure of the beast. And yet this scary, lively head pours libations, a sacred offering... so how do we balance sacrifice and celebration? It’s this duality that makes Greek art so persistently intriguing. Editor: Sacrifice and celebration, that's an interesting perspective. I hadn’t thought of it that way. It makes you wonder about the rituals it was used for, and how people experienced them. Curator: Exactly! Think of the weight of the terracotta in your hand, the coolness against your lips, and that strange feeling of intimacy with the ram's head as you tilted it back… This wasn't just about drinking wine; it was about experiencing a moment deeply intertwined with myth and the divine. Do you get it now? How it becomes like, strangely and totally poetical? Editor: Yeah, absolutely! I'll definitely look at other rhytons with fresh eyes after this. The layered experience of art is really intriguing.