This bronze cylindrical box, known as a cista, once held toiletries—mirrors, combs, brushes, various pins, cosmetic applicators, and the cosmetics themselves. Containers, like this, may have been given as wedding presents to young women about to be married.

Notice how this cista is engraved with elaborate battle scenes and chariot races—episodes from the Trojan War, as described in Homer’s Iliad. Mostly they pertain to the Greek hero, Achilles, who was one of the most popular figures in Greek and Etruscan art. He features prominently on the Etruscan chariot in this gallery.

On the cista there are also sea nymphs riding dolphins, and griffins attacking a horse. Imagine the dexterity of the artist—being able to engrave such complex scenes on a cylindrical surface!

This cista also has a remarkable handle constructed of two nude winged figures carrying the body of a dead soldier. Notice how delicately the artist rendered the feathers, and even the strands of hair.

We might think it unusual to find such decoration on a container that is typically associated with women. However, in Etruscan art, it is not uncommon to find battles and contests —scenes that we might connect with men—on mirrors and other toiletries boxes.

This bronze cista is the largest and finest in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection. It is also the same kind of toiletries box illustrated on the bronze mirror, in the nearby display case.