Terracotta pyxis (box) with lid 460 BC

This 5th century BC terracotta pyxis (box) with lid, is decorated in the black-figure style of Greek vase painting. The lid of the box is adorned with stylized palmette patterns in red and black, while the body features a scene of a woman offering a cup to a seated man. The artwork is an excellent example of the craftsmanship and artistic expression of the ancient Greeks, demonstrating the use of intricate details and narratives within a functional object. The pyxis likely would have been used to hold perfume or other valuable items, adding a decorative and symbolic element to daily life in ancient Greece.