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Glite Dictionary
cylix

cylix

9.9
A shallow cup with two handles for drinking wine in ancient Greece
  • noun
  • /ˈsɪlɪks/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cílix
  • During the symposium, guests would drink wine from a cylix while reclining on couches.

Examples

  • The museum displays a beautifully painted cylix from the fifth century BCE.

  • The intricate designs on the cylix depict scenes from Greek mythology.

  • Look at that cylix!

  • What a beautiful cylix!

  • During the symposium, guests would drink wine from a cylix while reclining on couches.

  • The intricate designs on the cylix depict scenes from Greek mythology.

  • The museum displays a beautifully painted cylix from the fifth century BCE.

Synonyms

loving cup
vscylix
1 7.9

A large cup with two handles given as a trophy at ceremonies

is a small shallow drinking vessel for everyday wine use rather than a trophy
kylix
vscylix
  • Specialized
9.9

A shallow cup with two handles used in ancient Greece for wine

is the same cup concept but uses the more common or standard spelling
scyphus
vscylix
  • Archaic
9.9

An ancient Greek cup with two handles and a small base for drinking

is similar but lacks the footed base and is shallower
quaich
vscylix
  • UK
9.9

A shallow two-handled cup from Scotland used for sharing drinks

is the Greek type used mostly for wine rather than Scottish sharing rituals

Surface Forms

cylix singular
cylixes plural

Etymology

Cylix comes from the Greek word kylix or kulix, which simply means 'cup'. Think of a Greek party where people drink 'wine' from a wide, shallow 'cup' with two handles — that picture explains why a cylix is a shallow two‑handled drinking cup used in ancient Greece.