Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)

In ancient Greece, a kylix was the most common type of cup for drinking wine. The vessel's interior was wide and nearly flat, thus offering a perfect surface for painted decoration. As the drinker consumed the wine, often titillating or amusing scenes would slowly be revealed. Since satyrs were known as highly sexual spirits with a passion for wine, a kylix with a depiction of a masturbating satyr is a fitting combination. This fragment uses the black-figure painting technique on terracotta.