Rattling Wine Cup in the Getty Villa, July 2008

Rattling Wine Cup
Greek, from South Italy, 400-300 BC
Terracotta and gold
Black-glazed kantharos

Inventory # 86.AE.702

Metal vessels inspired several features of this terracotta cup: the high foot, the sharply bent handles, the ridged rim, and the lobes on the lower body. The body of this cup was probably made in a mold. Decoration in gold includes a wreath encircling the vessel and garlands hanging from bucrania (skulls of sacrificial cattle). Stars fill the areas above the garlands, and a wave pattern runs below. The gold inscription on the rim indicates that the cup was given as an offering to Kastor and Polydeukes, the twin sons of Leda (a Spartan queen) and Zeus (king of the gods). The hollow rim contains two clay pellets that make a rattling sound when the cup is lifted or tipped.

Text from the Getty Villa museum label.