Archaic II

Limestone finial of a funerary stele with two seated lions

Two lions sit back to back on a cavetto finial decorated with a disk and a crescent, the points of which turn downward. The lions’ heads are turned toward the viewer, their mouths open and tongues extended. H.: 23 1/2 x 35 1/2 in., 9.5 cm (59.7 x 90.2 x 9.5 cm)

Classification

Object type: Stone sculpture
Motif: Lion
Material: StoneLimestone
Period: Iron AgeCypro-Archaic
Date: 550 - 526 BC
Place of production: probablyCyprus
Findspot: Amathus

Browse the catalogue by ware, shape, period and more →

Collection

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Provenance

From the necropolis of Amathus

References

Cesnola, Luigi Palma di. 1885. A Descriptive Atlas of the Cesnola Collection of Cypriote Antiquities in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Vol. 1. pl. XCV.642, Boston: James R. Osgood and Company.Myres, John L. 1914. Handbook of the Cesnola Collection of Antiquities from Cyprus. no. 1389, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.Pogiatzi, Elena. 2003. Die Grabreliefs auf Zypern: von der archaischen bis zur romischen Zeit. cat. 1, pp. 5-6, 77, 83, 105, pl. I, Mannheim: Bibliopolis.Stylianou, Andreas and Patrick Schollmeyer. 2007. "Der Sarkophag aus Golgoi." Dynastensarkophage mit szenischen Reliefs aus Byblos und Zypern: Der Sarkophag aus Amathous als Beispiel kontaktinduzierten Wandels, 2. p. 204f n. 69-71, pl. 49b, Mainz am Rhein: Philipp von Zabern.Hermary, Antoine and Joan R. Mertens. 2013. The Cesnola Collection of Cypriot Art : Stone Sculpture. no. 460, pp. 331-32, Online Publication, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Identifiers

Accession no.: 74.51.2865, Metropolitan Museum of Art
In catalogues: Myres 1914, no. 1389
Hermary 2013, no. 460

Corrections and additions

Do you know this object?

We are always looking for more of an object's history: who owned it, where it was sold or shown, and where it was published.

We would like to hear about

Earlier owners, sales or exhibitions
Publications that illustrate or mention it
Where it is now, if it has moved
Better photographs, or a close parallel
A mistake in what we say about it

Write to us

or alexis@ancientcyprus.com

Messages are read by us alone and kept confidential, unless the law requires otherwise. Tell us if you would like to be thanked by name on the page.

Limestone finial of a funerary stele with two seated lions

Classification

Identifiers

Do you know this object?

Similar pieces