Makron was one of the most prolific Attic red-figure vase painters of the 5th century B.C. Known primarily for his work on kylixes, or wine cups, he specialized in depicting scenes of daily life such as athletics, erotic encounters and symposia (or banqueting scenes) like that of the present example. Unlike other Attic vase painters who worked across different workshops, Makron seemed to have exclusively painted cups by the potter Hieron, whose signature can be found on the handle of this kylix.

The symposium scene on this kylix provides a glimpse into what an ancient Greek version of a dinner party would have looked like in the 5th century B.C. The tondo depicts a moment from the earlier part of the evening, where a man is being proffered portions of a meal (in this case, a lamb shank and a plate of fruit) by a young nude boy.

The exterior rim is a continuation of the scene from later in the night, after the food has been cleared and the drinking portion of the symposium has commenced (in ancient Greek, symposion translates literally to “drink together”). Here, men are seen partaking in varying forms of revelry such as a bearded man playing kottabos, which was a game that involved flinging wine-sediment onto a central target.

An exhausted nude serving boy, reminiscent of the one depicted on the tondo, is seen fallen asleep under one of the handles, a subtle reminder of the class-differences between the revelers and those who wait on them.

J.D. Beazley notes that Makron is particularly skillful in depicting decorative elements, like clothing and furniture,which is brilliantly illustrated in the folds of the drapery and ornamental cushions on this reveler: