Terracotta fragments of a psykter (vase for cooling wine) 530 BC

These are terracotta fragments of a psykter, a vase for cooling wine, made by Euphronios. These fragments offer us glimpses into the lives of ancient Athenians. Euphronios was a master potter and painter during a time of relative peace, economic growth, and cultural innovation. His work reveals not only artistic skill but also the social values and norms of his society. Wine vessels like this were centerpieces of the symposium, an all-male drinking party that served as a crucial site for social and intellectual exchange among the Athenian elite. Through these gatherings, they reinforced their status and shaped cultural and political life. In these settings, gender and class were performed in very specific ways; women were excluded. This psykter invites us to reflect on the relationships between art, power, and identity in ancient Greece, and perhaps even to consider how these dynamics echo in our own time. Though fragmented, it connects us to a rich history of human expression and social interaction.