Kylix, band-cup 550 BC

This is a Kylix, or band-cup, made anonymously in Ancient Greece. Drinking vessels like these offer a window into the performative aspects of ancient symposia, or male drinking parties. The decoration around the cup depicts men in various states of revelry, reflecting a culture deeply intertwined with the rituals of masculinity. We see figures dancing, perhaps engaged in athletic contests, or simply in conversation. There’s an undeniable homoerotic charge to these scenes. The male body is celebrated, not just for its physical prowess, but also for its capacity for pleasure and camaraderie. Consider how this cup might have felt in the hands of its user, the weight of the clay, the cool liquid, and the shared experience of drinking alongside fellow men. It's a testament to the social bonds forged in these exclusive settings, even as it prompts us to question who was included, and who was excluded, from these expressions of community.