Kylix

by Stable MARK

The kylix was the ancient Greeks’ favorite wine cup—elegant, wide, and perfectly shaped for reclining at lavish drinking parties. More than just a vessel, it blended function, art, and social ritual in one iconic form.

Ancient Attic red-figure kylix with two handles, featuring a tondo scene of a Silen reaching for a fleeing Maenad. Early 4th century BCE. — Image: Attic red-figure kylix showing a Silen and a Maenad, early 4th century BCE. The tondo depicts a dynamic scene of Dionysian revelry, with a Silen reaching toward a retreating Maenad. These vessels were often used in symposia, where such imagery reflected themes of ecstasy and excess.
Source: by Stable MARK - own work.

Discover the fascinating world of ancient Greek kylixes—wine cups that were as artistic as they were functional. In this article, you’ll explore their purpose, meaning, design, and history—brought to life with 19 stunning images showcasing different styles, scenes, and craftsmanship from across centuries.

Table of Contents

What Is a Kylix?What Was a Kylix Used For?What Does the Name “Kylix” Mean?How Do You Hold a Kylix?Who Used the Kylix?How Big Is a Kylix?What Does a Kylix Look Like?What Were Kylikes Made Of?Where Is the Theseus Kylix?

What Is a Kylix?

A kylix is one of the most iconic drinking vessels from ancient Greece, known for its broad, shallow bowl and horizontal handles. More than just a cup, it was a key part of ancient social life. Here's a deep dive into the kylix and answers to the most common questions.

Upside-down ancient Greek red-figure kylix with two handles, showing reclining youths in symposium scenes, ca. 480 BCE. — Image: Attic red-figure kylix showing a reclining youth at a symposium, ca. 480 BCE. The exterior of the cup, seen here upside down, depicts relaxed male figures in banquet scenes, typical of social drinking culture in Classical Athens.
Source: by Stable MARK - own work.

In stock

Roman Silver Skyphos Cup Kantharos

Year 2022

$ 10450

Ref: 18VN9000

What Was a Kylix Used For?

A kylix was primarily used for drinking wine during Greek symposiums — formal gatherings where men reclined on couches, discussed politics, philosophy, poetry, and enjoyed entertainment. The shape of the kylix was practical for reclining guests, allowing them to drink comfortably without spilling.

Ancient Attic red-figure kylix showing a bearded warrior with a woman offering a parting libation; outer scenes with warriors arming themselves, attributed to Duris, around 500 BC. — Image: Attic red-figure kylix by the painter Duris, circa 500 BC. From Caere (Cerveteri), Italy. The interior depicts a warrior’s farewell; the exterior shows arming scenes, possibly Trojan princes preparing for war.
Source: by Stable MARK - own work.

It also played a role in drinking games like kottabos, where guests flung wine dregs at a target for fun.

In stock

Roman Silver Kantharos Cup Skyphos

Year 2024

$ 10450

Ref: 11VN9000

What Does the Name “Kylix” Mean?

The word kylix (Greek: κύλιξ) literally means “cup” in ancient Greek. It could also describe the cup-like shape of a flower. It's related to the Latin calix, which also means cup, and may have older, non-Indo-European roots.

Ancient Greek black-figure kylixwith an offset lip, showing two dancing male youths, decorated around the body with dotted patterns and floral motifs, dated circa 560 BC. — Image: Attic black-figure kylixn with an offset lip, depicting dancing youths (Komasts), dated around 560 BC.
Source: by Stable MARK - own work.

So, it wasn’t just the name of a single object, but a term for a general type of drinking vessel with a broad, shallow bowl and two horizontal handles.

How Do You Hold a Kylix?

A kylix was typically held by one of its two side handles. The wide, flat bowl made it easy to hold with one hand, even while reclining.

Ancient Greek black-figure kylix on a high stem, decorated with a lion attacking a prey animal in a band across the body. Circa 550 BCE. — Image: Attic black-figure band cup kylix showing animal combat, ca. 550 BCE. The scene features a lion attacking a fleeing prey animal, a common motif in early Greek vase painting. This elegant drinking vessel combines narrative art with everyday use.
Source: by Stable MARK - own work.

During kottabos, players would hook a finger through the handle to flick wine from the cup at a target. The shallow design helped control the liquid while still giving a wide surface for decorative artwork.

Who Used the Kylix?

Ancient Attic band-cup kylix with two handles and a tall stem, featuring the potter’s inscription “Xenokles” around the rim. Dated ca. 540 BCE. — Image: Attic band-cup kylix with potter’s inscription of Xenokles, ca. 540 BCE. The vessel bears a clear black-letter signature on the exterior band, marking the name of the potter. This type of identification is rare and highlights the pride taken in craftsmanship during the Archaic period.
Source: by Stable MARK - own work.

Kylikes were used by Greek men at symposiums, often the elite class. These drinking parties were social events tied to male bonding, conversation, and cultural performances.

Ancient Greek red-figure kylix with two handles, depicting Apollo playing a lyre while riding a griffin, framed by a meander pattern. Attic, early 4th century BCE. — Image: Attic red-figure kylix showing Apollo seated on a griffin, playing the lyre. First half of the 4th century BCE. The mythological scene is enclosed in a fine meander border, highlighting the divine character and decorative finesse of this symposium vessel.
Source: by Stable MARK - own work.

Slaves, usually young boys, served the wine in kylikes. The guests themselves could be poets, politicians, philosophers, or aristocrats. Women typically did not attend symposiums, except for courtesans or entertainers.

How Big Is a Kylix?

Ancient East Greek kylix with two handles. Inside: central tondo showing a mounted warrior, rim decorated with leaping dolphins. Ca. 550 BCE. — Image: East Greek kylix with horseman in the tondo and dolphins around the rim, ca. 550 BCE. The central figure depicts a mounted warrior, while the upper interior features stylized dolphins in motion, a popular motif in Archaic Greek marine imagery.
Source: by Stable MARK - own work.

The size of a kylix varied, but most had a diameter of 20–30 cm (8–12 inches) including the handles. The bowl itself was quite shallow and could hold around 200 to 400 ml (7–13 oz) of liquid — perfect for sipping wine slowly throughout the evening.

Ancient Greek eye kylix with black-figure decoration showing a helmeted warrior between painted eyes, dating to around 525 BCE. — Image: Black-figure warrior eye kylix, ca. 525 BCE, decorated with stylized eyes and a central warrior motif.
Source: by Stable MARK - own work.

Some kylikes were larger or more decorative, depending on their purpose and status of the owner.

What Does a Kylix Look Like?

Ancient Greek red-figure kylix with two handles, showing Hermes with a traveler's hat and caduceus, leading a sacrificial pig to an altar. Circa 510–500 BCE. — Image: Attic red-figure kylix depicting Hermes at a sacrificial scene, dated 510–500 BCE. The god is shown in traveler's attire, holding a staff and leading a sacrificial pig toward an altar. This vessel was likely used in symposia, linking ritual with daily life.
Source: by Stable MARK - own work.

A typical kylix has:

A shallow, circular bowl
A short or tall stem
Two horizontal handles
Interior decoration (tondo) often hidden at first under wine
Exterior artwork showing gods, athletes, dancers, or humorous scenes

Kylikes came in different shapes like Type A, Type B, or Little-Master Cups, with slight variations in lip, stem, and decoration.

Exhibit graphic showing outlines of ancient Greek drinking cups: kylix, skyphos, kantharos, and rhyton, used for wine consumption. — Image: Typology of ancient Greek drinking vessels: Kylix, Skyphos, Kantharos, and Rhyton — museum panel from Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna.
Source: by Stable MARK - own work.

This image from the Kunsthistorisches Museum (KHM) Vienna clearly explains the four main types of ancient Greek drinking vessels: Kylix, Skyphos, Kantharos, and Rhyton. Each had a specific purpose in banquets and rituals, and you can explore them in detail in dedicated articles.

What Were Kylikes Made Of?

Ancient Corinthian kylix with painted animal hunt scene, featuring lions attacking a grazing deer, surrounded by decorative patterns. — Image: Corinthian kylix showing an animal hunt scene with lions attacking a deer, 6th century BC.
Source: by Stable MARK - own work.

Most kylikes were made from fired terracotta (ceramic clay) and decorated using:

Black-figure technique (figures in black silhouette, details incised)
Red-figure technique (figures in red with painted black background)

Some simpler kylikes were plain black without decoration, while others were finely painted with elaborate scenes of mythology, daily life, or erotic imagery.

Where Is the Theseus Kylix?

The Theseus kylix, one of the most famous examples, is housed in the National Archaeological Museum of Madrid, Spain.

Ancient Attic red-figure kylix with two handles, tondo shows a reclining youth playing kottabos. Dated around 500 BCE. — Image: Attic red-figure kylix showing a youth playing kottabos, ca. 500 BCE. In the tondo, a reclining figure elegantly flicks wine from a cup in the popular symposium game. Framed by a classic meander, the scene reflects the leisurely rituals of aristocratic banquets.
Source: by Stable MARK - own work.

It features Theseus battling the Minotaur — a classic mythological theme — painted in the black-figure technique. The artwork is detailed and framed in a tondo (the circular interior field), visible only as the wine is consumed.

Ancient Boeotian kylix with two handles and painted geometric decoration, including concentric bands and vertical rim lines. Made in the second half of the 6th century BCE. — Image: Boeotian kylix with geometric decoration, second half of the 6th century BCE. The shallow bowl is adorned with concentric reddish bands and vertical strokes along the rim, exemplifying regional Greek design trends of the Archaic period.
Source: by Stable MARK - own work.

Ancient Greek red-figure kylix with two horizontal handles, depicting a nude youth holding a stick within a meander-framed tondo. Made in Attica, 5th century BCE. — Image: Attic red-figure kylix showing a youth with a stick, ca. 480–470 BCE. The interior tondo features a nude young man in motion, framed by a classic meander border. This elegant vessel was used in symposiums for wine drinking.
Source: by Stable MARK - own work.

Image: Late Corinthian kylix depicting water birds, ca. 570–550 BCE. The rounded body of the vessel features stylized aquatic birds in motion, executed in black-figure technique. This type of decoration reflects the Corinthian fondness for nature themes and elegant silhouettes.
Source: by Stable MARK - own work.