Fragment of a limestone relief with a tree and birds of prey, Archaic II Cypriot statue
Fragment of a limestone relief with a tree and birds of prey, Archaic II Cypriot, c. 499–475 BC. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 74.51.2667.Open Access by the MET

Archaic II

Fragment of a limestone relief with a tree and birds of prey

The block, preserved in its full width, but broken both above and below, shows, in low relief, a tree with a narrow trunk. Branches with different kinds of leaves, some oval, some pointed, are grafted diagonally to the trunk—unless the oval ones represent fruit. Two birds, with summarily rendered wings and plumage and facing in opposite directions, stand in profile on two of these branches, now lost below the break. Their hooked beaks designate them as birds of prey. The one on the right, almost worked in sunk relief, is larger and more carefully worked. Overall: 14 1/8 x 10 1/8 x 4 3/8 in. (35.9 x 25.7 x 11.1 cm)

Classification

Object type
Relief
Material
StoneLimestone
Period
probablyIron AgeCypro-Archaic
Date
499 - 475 BC
Place of production
Cyprus
Findspot
Golgoi

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Accession No.

74.51.2667

Provenance

  • From the Sanctuary of Golgoi-Ayios Photios, Cyprus

References

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