Terracotta fragment of a trefoil olpe (jug) 600 BC

This terracotta fragment of a trefoil olpe, or jug, was made by an anonymous artist in ancient Greece. Though the artist is unknown, its creation was undoubtedly shaped by the cultural values of its time. The fragment depicts a figure, likely male, adorned with clothing or armor, and perhaps frozen in a moment of action or repose. Its existence offers a glimpse into the gendered norms of ancient Greek society, where male figures often dominated both artistic and political spheres. As we consider the hands that crafted this jug, we must also acknowledge the potential erasure of other voices – women, enslaved individuals – whose stories may have been excluded from the dominant narratives. This fragment invites us to reflect on the stories we tell ourselves about history, and the absences that haunt our understanding of the past.