The face of a smiling monkey decorates a sixth-century B.C. terracotta cup found in the eastern Aegean area. Called a kantharos, this drinking cup is believed to have originated in Cyprus or eastern Greece, where figured vases were common. The matte glaze and the use of grainy clay suggests that it was made by a Cypriot potter inspired by eastern Greek models, though there are other possibilities. The kantharos may be connected to Rhodes, where artifacts in the shape of monkeys have been found, or to Crete, which enjoyed a strong link with Egypt in the 14th and 13th […]
