Attic cup
- Maker: Attributed to Douris
- Culture: Attic
- Made in: Attica (Greece)
- Date: 470BC (circa)
- Object type: cup
- Materials: pottery
- Museum number: 1843,1103.61
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
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About this object
This is an Attic red-figured pottery cup, created around 470 BC in Attica, Greece. Inside, two figures from Greek mythology are brought to life: Achilles, seated with his head bowed, and Odysseus standing beside him, gesturing as if in conversation. The intricate details—Achilles’ draped himation, Odysseus’ fillet, and the shield and sword—draw your eye to the story unfolding.
The artist used fine relief lines to capture folds in drapery and even the texture of beards. On the exterior, scenes of warriors departing for battle and a lively exchange between men and youths suggest this cup was used for storytelling and social gathering.
The work is attributed to Douris, a master painter known for blending myth with realism on pottery. The style and subject matter place this piece firmly in the golden age of Greek artistry, showcasing how pottery could both serve daily life and preserve epic tales.
See it in person
Attic cup is on display at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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