Greek Marble Cup, 5th-4th century BCE
Marble
height 12.3 cm
height 4 7/8 in
height 4 7/8 in
EL.0056
This small stone cup is elaborately decorated, both with patterns and a figural scene. As the base narrows into the stem, horizontal lines form rings of marble. Above this there...
This small stone cup is elaborately decorated, both with patterns and a figural scene. As the base narrows into the stem, horizontal lines form rings of marble. Above this there is a section filled with a diamond pattern. Where the stem widens out to form the cup itself, there is a thicker section decorated with diagonal lines, followed by another ring of marble. Above this is the main decorative scene. The sides of the cup itself slope outwards slightly, leading to the widest part of the cup at the rim, which is decorated with another pattern of diamonds and triangles with dots inside. The main scene occupies a continuous panel going the whole way around the cup. Half of this space is filled by a bird, seen side on and facing right. Its large wings are lined to denote the individual feathers, and its feet are clawed. Its head, with visible eye and beak, is looking directly at the other creature in the scene, a woman. Her head is seen in profile, turned to the left, and her hair appears either to end at her shoulders or pass behind them. She is looking at an object she is holding in her right hand, which is resting on the ground on her elbow. The object in her hand appears to be a cup very similar to the one on which the image is found. Her torso is seen frontally, with her rounded breasts visible. Her left arm is bent behind her, with her hand resting on her buttocks. Her body is twisted at her waist so that her hips lie flat on the ground. One leg lies flat, and the other is bent upwards at the knee. The spaces in between the bird and the woman are filled in with organic shapes, possibly representing foliage. It is possible that the scene had some mythological relevance that is now lost to us. The marble is coloured with some natural darker patches and lines.