Terracotta fragments of a kylix (drinking cup) 500 BC

This fragment of a black-figure kylix, a type of drinking cup, from 500 BCE, was created by the Athenian artist Kachrylion. The piece, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts a scene likely from a myth or story. It is a rare example of the work of Kachrylion, highlighting the importance of preserving such fragments for understanding ancient Greek art and culture. The artist used black glaze and terracotta, the reddish-brown clay, to create a detailed image. Black-figure pottery is a style of Greek vase painting. It was popular from the 7th century BC to the 5th century BC. This type of pottery is characterized by using black glaze on a red clay ground to form the figures. The figures themselves are painted in black, while the details are painted in white or purple. Black-figure pottery is important because it provides us with insights into the lives of ancient Greeks, their beliefs and their stories.