Attic Red-Figure Kylix
The cup is reassembled from fragments, and bears some misfiring on the exterior surfaces.
The interior shows an ithyphallic reveller striding to the left within a reserved border. He carries drapery over his left shoulder, and carries an object in his raised right hand (partially missing, as is a section of the young man's head).
On one side of the exterior, five nude males cavort and dance. From the left, one strides to the left, looking back with his left arm (swathed with drapery) outstretched. A second youth, almost a mirror image of his companion, moves to the right, holding a clapper. To his right, a youth holds a pointed amphora as though in the process of pouring from it. Before him stands a youth with a skyphos, holding a stick wrapped with a swath of drapery over his shoulder. A fifth youth walks to the right, looking back with a pipes-case hanging from his right arm. All of the youths are wreathed.
On the other side of the exterior, two youths perform sex acts with women, watched by a third youth at right. From the left, an ithyphallic nude youth leans forward, grasping the outstretched leg of a woman who bends before him. She is nude, and places her hands upon the ground line. Above, two swags of drapery hang in the background. To the right, a nude youth reclines in profile on a couch (kline), leaning against a cushion. A nude woman, depicted at a smaller scale, and facing left, lowers herself onto his erect penis. A third youth approaches from the right. He is ithyphallic, with his right arm outstretched.
The form and function of this cup, as well as the scene of wine-consumption and dancing on the exterior, place the sex scenes within the context of the symposium. This was an all-male event, with opportunities for social bonding and entertainment of all varieties – music, conversation, mockery, and sexual gratification. The women appear to act at the behest of the youths, and are likely to be prostitutes or hired companions.
The interior shows an ithyphallic reveller striding to the left within a reserved border. He carries drapery over his left shoulder, and carries an object in his raised right hand (partially missing, as is a section of the young man's head).
On one side of the exterior, five nude males cavort and dance. From the left, one strides to the left, looking back with his left arm (swathed with drapery) outstretched. A second youth, almost a mirror image of his companion, moves to the right, holding a clapper. To his right, a youth holds a pointed amphora as though in the process of pouring from it. Before him stands a youth with a skyphos, holding a stick wrapped with a swath of drapery over his shoulder. A fifth youth walks to the right, looking back with a pipes-case hanging from his right arm. All of the youths are wreathed.
On the other side of the exterior, two youths perform sex acts with women, watched by a third youth at right. From the left, an ithyphallic nude youth leans forward, grasping the outstretched leg of a woman who bends before him. She is nude, and places her hands upon the ground line. Above, two swags of drapery hang in the background. To the right, a nude youth reclines in profile on a couch (kline), leaning against a cushion. A nude woman, depicted at a smaller scale, and facing left, lowers herself onto his erect penis. A third youth approaches from the right. He is ithyphallic, with his right arm outstretched.
The form and function of this cup, as well as the scene of wine-consumption and dancing on the exterior, place the sex scenes within the context of the symposium. This was an all-male event, with opportunities for social bonding and entertainment of all varieties – music, conversation, mockery, and sexual gratification. The women appear to act at the behest of the youths, and are likely to be prostitutes or hired companions.
Images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (CC0)