Terracotta fragments of a kylix: eye-cup (drinking cup) 530 BC

Curator: Looking at these terracotta fragments from an ancient kylix, an eye-cup crafted around 530 BC, one can’t help but feel a sense of connection to a distant past. Editor: It's humbling, isn't it? I find these broken pieces surprisingly evocative. There's something almost mournful about them, whispering stories of shattered gatherings and lost rituals. Curator: Precisely! The kylix, a drinking cup, was a vessel for shared experiences, for symposia. Note how the exterior is adorned in the black-figure style, with the eye motif suggesting protection, perhaps warding off evil spirits during social events. Editor: Right, those large eyes—it's fascinating how potent they remain, even in fragmented form. They invite so many interpretations. Who was using these cups? And for what purposes? I see evidence of a very exclusive culture with these highly stylized decorations, perhaps exclusionary of other practices and customs, particularly of women. Curator: Good point! It also reminds us of how ancient societies viewed the act of drinking, of communion. We might consider the shared libations, the performative aspects of gathering and community making, all part of what it means to use such an object. We still feel echoes of that today in our traditions. Editor: Exactly! But more specifically, how were gender and other social norms upheld or resisted in that context? It's tempting to focus on the object's aesthetics, but we must situate it in terms of class, and even the rituals in relation to enslavement, something frequently unacknowledged during this time in ancient Greece. Curator: A powerful and critical angle. It’s amazing how an object—especially a fragmented one—can act as a mirror reflecting social dynamics and values. This incomplete form challenges us to confront the gaps in our understanding. Editor: Yes, and it encourages us to ask difficult questions about power, access, and who gets to participate in shaping history. These fragments speak volumes.