In Case 9, you’ll discover a unique kantharos—a wine-drinking vessel—from an Attic workshop. What makes this piece so distinctive are its two sculpted heads: on one side, a pale-skinned woman with delicate features; on the other, a dark-skinned woman with fuller lips and a broad nose, suggesting African ancestry.

The African figure is adorned with an ivy branch—sacred to Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry—linking the vessel to the world of the symposium. It was likely intended for wine consumption during symposia, where such decorated vessels might have portrayed entertainers or companions. This remarkable find, dating to the mid-5^th century BC, shows the ancient Greeks’ familiarity with people from the African continent.