This small vessel is a piece of red-figure pottery from Athens, Greece, dated around 480 B.C. This item is characteristic of the classical Greek era, representing a shift from the traditional black-figure vase painting to allow for more intricate detail in the depiction of human figures and narrative scenes.
Prominent on the artifact is the depiction of a lyre-player, who personifies a significant cultural figure in ancient Greece, associated with music and mythical narratives. This figure is portrayed in the act of playing the lyre, clothed in a robe rendered with exceptional detail, indicative of the artisan's command of fabric depiction.
The kylix, with dimensions of 8.9cm in height and 27.6 cm in diameter, is a wide-bodied drinking cup featuring a shallow foot and horizontal handles on each side. This design aligns with traditional Greek pottery, serving both functional daily use and as containers for the deceased's ashes.
The lyre-player is delineated within an elaborate frieze which extends along the body of the kylix. The picture combines a range of scenes, predominantly festive, created with precision, enhancing our knowledge of that era's societal and aesthetic preferences. Noteworthy is the meticulous detail in human anatomy, emotive expression and movement contributed to by careful manipulation of diluted clay slip.
