Terracotta skyphos (deep drinking cup) 325 BC

This terracotta skyphos, or deep drinking cup, was crafted by the Tondo Group. Imagine holding this vessel, its smooth surface cool to the touch, picturing the rituals and social gatherings it once graced. These cups were not mere objects; they were integral to the symposia, the drinking parties of ancient Greece, spaces exclusively occupied by men. The imagery adorning the cup often presented idealized versions of femininity. Here, the woman's serene profile and elaborate adornments speak to prevailing standards of beauty and status, yet we might also consider the absence of female voices and perspectives in these depictions. What unspoken stories do these images conceal about the lives of women? Does the cup invite us to question the power dynamics inherent in its use and representation? In considering this drinking cup, we are invited to reflect on the legacies of gender, representation, and the enduring questions these objects pose about the past and our present.