It was found by Georgio Buchner in 1954 in a cremation grave dating to the end of the eighth century, which contained the remains of three adults as well as burnt animal bones, a fibula and fragments of other vessels.

At least fifteen possible reconstructions have been proposed, which variously associate and contrast the vessel with cup of Nestor described in the Iliad.

[1] It was found in 1954[5] in a cremation grave dating to approximately 720–710 BC[4] on the island of Ischia, home of the Euboean Greek emporion (trading-site) of Pithekoussai.

It consists of two panels, the uppermost of which is divided into four metopes decorated with diamonds, a stylised drawing of a sacred tree and meander hooks,[7] a device common on Attic skyphoi of the Geometric period.

[10] Osteological analysis carried out on the bones in 2017 suggested that the cremated remains associated with Nestor's Cup, and the grave itself, were of a child aged around 10 to 14.

[11] However, a more recent analysis conducted by the bioarchaeologist Melania Gigante and her team suggests that the remains are actually of three adults of varying ages.

[12] Unlike previous studies, they also found evidence of burnt animal bones among the remains, including those of sheep or goats, possibly dogs, and birds.

]ι[d] : ευποτ[ον] : ποτεριον : ͱος δ'α<ν> τοδε π[ιε]σι : ποτερι[ο] : αυτικα κενον ͱιμερ[ος ͱαιρ]εσει : καλλιστε[φα]νο : Αφροδιτες I am the cup of Nestor good for drinking.

[21] Arrington has suggested that the inscription may have been composed orally between multiple participants, each contributing a line, and then written onto the cup.