Terracotta kylix: lip-cup (drinking cup) 550 BC

This terracotta kylix, or lip-cup, was crafted by Epitimos. The cup is a study in contrasts, featuring a warm, terracotta-colored body sharply defined by sleek, black accents. The geometric precision of the cup's form—a shallow bowl atop a slender stem—is deceptively simple. Black bands delineate the rim and base, while the handles, arching outward, introduce a dynamic tension to the composition. The sparse figural decoration presents a formal counterpoint to the cup's utilitarian function. The painted figures are reduced to essential lines, each stroke imbued with a graphic precision that echoes the cup's overall structure. The kylix is an enduring symbol of ritual and aesthetics, where form and function are inseparable. As an object, it asks us to consider how the structures that shape our everyday lives can also elevate our understanding and appreciation of art.