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Ancient Greek

Kantharos (Wine Cup) in the Shape of a Female Head

about 480 BCE
terracotta, white-ground and black-figure technique
17.8 × 13.3 cm (7 × 5.2 in)

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● On view now — Gallery 151

Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · verified July 2026

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FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

This is an example of one of the most popular types of wine cup in ancient Greece, the kantharos. This particular cup takes the form of a woman's head, which is mirrored on the opposite side. Rising from a round foot, the woman's neck forms a wide stem, above which the cup flares out to a wide bowl with two handles on opposite sides.

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