# @gettymuseum on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CeXEAcwPJ7A
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/34228282-gettymuseum-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/a7ff9f8426.jpg
- **Posted:** 2022-06-03T22:44:50.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Getty (@gettymuseum) — https://gondola.cc/gettymuseum

## Caption

What's your go-to topic of conversation at a party? 

For the ancient Greeks, conversations could be sparked by the wares on the table. Entertaining settings looked a little differently than Williams Sonoma today. One common form of vessel was the kylix, or wine cup (swipe to see examples, note the shallow shape).

Kylixes were made for sipping wine throughout an entire evening. As the wine level in your cup dropped throughout a symposium, you might be greeted by an image of a singer plucking a lyre, a heartbreaking depiction of Ajax on his sword, or a subtle reminder of the dangers of overimbibing. Ancient Greek painters got creative and painted them with scenes from the decorative to the scandalous and everything in between. 

Bonus, drinking games! Kylixes were used for kottabos, a game where the aim was to flick the dregs of your wine at a target, with what we can only assume were hilarious results. Each throw would be dedicated to your beloved or subject of desire. 

Cheers to the weekend!

🏷: #Ancient #History #Greek #Pottery #WineLovers #Wine #GettyVilla

Artworks:
Attic Black-Figure Eye Cup, about 530 B.C., Attributed to the Painter of Villa Giulia 63613. Getty Museum
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Woman carrying kylix, about 1880s, British. Getty Museum
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Attic Red-Figure Kylix, about 480 B.C., Attributed to Briseis Painter. Getty Museum
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Attic Red-Figure Kylix, about 490 B.C., Attributed to Onesimos. Getty Museum
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Attic Red-Figure Kylix, about 510 B.C., Phintias. Getty Museum
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Attic Red-Figure Cup, about 510 B.C., Epiktetos. Getty Museum
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Attic Red-Figured Kylix, 490–480 B.C., Attributed to the Brygos Painter. Getty Museum
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Attic Red-Figure Cup Type B, about 490 B.C., Attributed to Onesimos. Getty Museum
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Attic Red-Figure Dinoid Volute Krater and Stand, 390–380 B.C., Attributed to the Meleager Painter. Getty Museum

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## Tags

wine, winelovers, history, pottery, gettyvilla, greek, ancient

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