Attic cup
- Maker: Attributed to Douris
- Culture: Attic
- Made in: Attica (Greece)
- Date: 485BC-480BC
- Object type: cup
- Materials: pottery
- Museum number: 1843,1103.53
- 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 cup, dating to around 485 to 480 BCE. Attributed to the famous Athenian potter and painter Douris, it showcases scenes on both the interior and exterior.
On the interior, you see a bearded man facing left, with his head turned to the right. His pose and draped himation, or cloak, suggest a ceremonial or formal setting. Alongside him hang items like a sponge, a small flask, and a net bag—common in gymnasia or training spaces in classical Greece.
On the exterior, the scenes become more animated: there are youths, boys, and older men dressed in himations and wearing red fillets in their hair, which mark them as participants in or witnesses to a competition or celebration. Red branches and flowers are prominent, possibly symbolizing victory or a reward.
The cup’s rich detail and use of red-figure painting highlight Douris’s skill in depicting movement, dress, and gesture. These figures were not just decorative but likely conveyed important cultural and sporting narratives in ancient Athens.
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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