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Cauldron with lid

Late 6th - first half of 5th Century BCE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 157
This bronze cauldron, or lebes, is striking for its simplicity and elegant spool-shaped elements holding the movable handles. It is not clear whether such vessels originally were intended to cook food, such as broth, or to contain wine. Similar bronze cauldrons have been found in graves in Athens and Attica, where they were used to hold cremated remains. This funerary practice was a reactivation of a much older tradition heroizing the deceased. Inscriptions indicate that cauldrons were also offered as prizes in competitions.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Cauldron with lid
  • Period: Classical
  • Date: Late 6th - first half of 5th Century BCE
  • Culture: Greek
  • Medium: Bronze
  • Dimensions: 10 1/2 in. (26.7 cm)
  • Classification: Bronzes
  • Credit Line: Marguerite and Frank A. Cosgrove Jr. Fund, 2024
  • Object Number: 2024.12a, b
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

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