Terracotta kylix: band-cup (drinking cup) 560 BC

This terracotta kylix, or drinking cup, was crafted by the artist known only as Elbows Out. It offers a glimpse into the cultural values of its time. Band cups like this one were common in ancient Greece and used in social gatherings or symposia. Decorated with a frieze of roosters, the imagery speaks to the symbolic richness embedded in everyday objects. In ancient Greece, roosters were associated with virility, courage, and victory, often linked to athletic and martial contests. The cup may also reflect the competitive social dynamics of the symposium where drinkers engaged in witty banter and philosophical discussions. Imagine holding this kylix, the cool terracotta against your skin, as you participate in a communal ritual of drinking and dialogue. The painted roosters not merely decorate but evoke the performative masculinity that was so central to the cultural identity of the time. This band-cup reminds us how art intertwines with life.