The artwork is a terracotta skyphos, or deep drinking cup, from Ancient Greek Pottery, dated circa 350 BC. It belongs to the Classical art movement and falls under the genre of mythological painting and utensil. This piece is part of the Black-figure series and is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) in New York City, NY, US.
The deep drinking cup showcases intricate mythological scenes in black-figure technique, a prominent method used in ancient Greek pottery. The artwork features a rounded bowl with two prominent handles on either side. The exterior depicts human figures engaged in activities, possibly related to a mythological narrative. The dark figures stand in stark contrast to the terracotta background, produced through the firing process that reveals the natural color of the clay body. Each element is carefully designed to reveal the storytelling typical of ancient Greek culture, illustrating both the artistic skill and the societal values of the era.