ticketsMember | Make a donation

Terracotta cup with appliqués

ca. 150–100 BCE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 164
Applied decoration: the infant Herakles strangling the snakes, amphora with a lid, Eros holding a torch

Pergamene appliqué pottery, with its lustrous glaze and large repertoire of applied mold-made reliefs, is one of the finest ceramic creations of the Hellenistic period. Even as a baby, Herakles possessed great strength. The snakes he is strangling in this image were sent by the goddess Hera to kill him when she found out that his father, Zeus, had been unfaithful to her with the mortal Alkmene of Thebes.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Terracotta cup with appliqués
  • Period: Hellenistic
  • Date: ca. 150–100 BCE
  • Culture: Greek, Pergamene
  • Medium: Terracotta
  • Dimensions: H. 3 1/8 in. (8 cm); diameter 4 in. (10.2 cm)
  • Classification: Vases
  • Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
  • Object Number: 17.194.1846
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Terracotta kylix (drinking cup), Hieron as potter, Terracotta, Greek, Attic
Terracotta kylix (drinking cup)
Hieron
Makron
ca. 480 BCE
Terracotta askos in the form of a boar, Terracotta, Greek, South Italian, Campanian
Terracotta askos in the form of a boar
Greek, South Italian, Campanian
4th century BCE
Terracotta oinochoe (jug), Terracotta, Greek, Attic
Terracotta oinochoe (jug)
Greek, Attic
late 10th–early 9th century BCE
Terracotta oinochoe (jug), Terracotta, Greek, Attic
Terracotta oinochoe (jug)
Greek, Attic
mid-4th century BCE
Terracotta loutrophoros (ceremonial vase for water), Terracotta, Greek, Attic
Terracotta loutrophoros (ceremonial vase for water)
Greek, Attic
late 6th century BCE

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.