Oxford and Cambridge animate ancient Greek symposium on 2,500-year-old cup

Researchers from Oxford and Cambridge universities have created a video animation bringing to life scenes from a 2,500-year-old Greek drinking cup held by the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. The animation, part of the Iris Project, reconstructs a symposion—the drinking party that followed ancient Greek banquets—based on the cup's figurative decoration. It shows characters drinking, chatting, and engaging in music and games typical of such gatherings. Sonya Nevin, co-director of the Panoply Vase Animation Project, stated that the animation is intended as an educational tool for students, teachers, and anyone interested in experiencing classical history. The project uses historical analysis rather than lengthy essays or conferences to bring the ancient imagery to life.