Gordion cups are the earliest form of AtticLittle-Master cups. The shape probably flourished around 560 BC. They do not only comprise the earliest, but also the smallest examples of Little-Master cups. The cup lip is covered in black slip and clearly distinguished from the rest of the vessel. The handle zone is decorated with a black stripe near its upper edge, and often a second one near the lower edge. The foot is similar to that of a Siana cup, but more elongated and painted with decorative stripes on the bottom. Also similar to Siana cups, the interior is painted with a circular figural image, framed by a tongue pattern. The similarity to Siana cups is hardly coincidental, as they were the direct predecessors of Little-Master cups.
The Gordion cup type is named after a specimen found in the ancient city of Gordion, made by Ergotimos and painted by Kleitias. As usual on this shape, their signatures are placed straight between the fine handle palmettes.
