Corinthian Black-Figure Drinking Cup

In the tondo of this magnificent cup is a flying eagle, the sacred bird of Zeus and an age- old symbol of power and swiftness. The outside is adorned with splendid palmette patterns. Pieces such as this were made for export to the tables of the wealthy, and were so prized that they were often buried with their owners to delight them through eternity. Could the original owner of this vessel have ever experienced the pleasure that it brings to us today, now that the centuries have given it new meaning?