Fragments of a terracotta kylix (drinking cup) 520 BC

This fragment of a terracotta drinking cup was made by Euphronios in ancient Greece around 520-510 BC. It gives us a glimpse into the visual culture of the symposium, an important social institution for elite men. Painted using the red-figure technique, it depicts two figures, possibly athletes, engaged in activity. We can see them in the context of their clothing and attributes. The imagery and the object itself were designed for use within a specific social setting, to be viewed and discussed. As such, they offer insights into the values and concerns of Athenian society. To understand the painting better we can look at archaeological records of similar pottery shards, social histories, and accounts of symposia. By exploring such resources, we can get a better idea of how art like this functioned in the lives of its original viewers.