Limestone footstool

1st half of 5th century BCE
Not on view
The relief shows a chimera, a mythical creature composed of a lion, a she-goat, and a snake. It was customary to represent the goat as a protome emerging from the lion's back. Here she faces in the same direction as the lion and has one foreleg raised. The chimera was shown in this manner on coins of the Greek city of Sikyon during the fifth century B.C, and it is interesting to note that, according to one ancient writer, the traditional founder of Golgoi was a man named Golgos from Sikyon.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Limestone footstool
  • Period: Classical
  • Date: 1st half of 5th century BCE
  • Culture: Cypriot
  • Medium: Limestone
  • Dimensions: WebPub GR 2012 Cesnola: 7 7/8 × 28 7/16 × 11 1/4 in., 60 lb. (20 × 72.2 cm)
  • Classification: Cesnola Inscriptions
  • Credit Line: The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
  • Object Number: 74.51.2320
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

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