Terracotta kantharos (drinking cup with high handles) 430 BC

This terracotta kantharos, or drinking cup with high handles, dates back to 430 BC and was created by the Persian Class of Head Vases, known as Class W. The vessel features a distinctive design - a sculpted female head serves as the base, while the upper part of the cup is adorned with a black-figure painting depicting a winged sphinx and a figure holding a staff. These head vases, characterized by the expressive portrayal of human faces, were popular in ancient Greece, highlighting the growing interest in individual portraiture during this period. The kantharos, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, exemplifies the sophisticated craftsmanship and artistic sensibilities of the Athenian vase painters.