The Greeks thought it uncivilized to drink their wine neat, so these large bowls were used to mix wine with water.

Kraters were used at drinking parties called symposia, where men would talk and enjoy the company of male friends, whilst their wives were prevented from taking part.

On this krater you can see men playing a game called kottabos. The aim was to flick the wine dregs at the bottom of their cups at a target across the room!

Kraters were used at symposia, male-only drinking parties for wealthy men. They were therefore symbols of a wealthy lifestyle. For this reason, they were sometimes used as grave markers for men and boys in early Greece.