Terracotta stemmed cup with murex decoration

ca. 1400–1300 BCE

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 151

The murex shells and sea anemones decorating this kylix attest to the sea as an invaluable source of food, trade, and economic prosperity for the Mycenaeans. A type of mollusk, the murex was prized in antiquity for producing a purple dye that was used in textile production and Mycenaean wall paintings. Archaeological evidence suggests that the Minoans on Crete were already manufacturing purple from murex as early as 2000 bce.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

References

Title: Terracotta stemmed cup with murex decoration
Period: Late Helladic IIIA
Date: ca. 1400–1300 BCE
Culture: Helladic, Mycenaean
Medium: Terracotta
Dimensions: H. 6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm)
diameter 5 1/2 in. (14 cm)
Classification: Vases
Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1912
Object Number: 12.229.7
Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

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