ticketsMember | Make a donation

Statuette of the Personification of a City

300–500
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 301
Tyche, the personification of chance or fortune, was also understood as the protector of cities. Linked to civic pride and well-being, she appeared in a range of media, including coins, stone reliefs, glass bottles, and stone and copper-alloy sculptures. Here, Tyche sits on a low throne. Wearing a mural crown, chiton, and peplos, she holds a cornucopia in her left hand. She extends her right hand, which held a now-missing attribute, possibly a staff. It is difficult to identify which city is represented by the statuette, but regardless, the sculpture is representative of the small-scale Tyche images found throughout the late Roman and early Byzantine worlds.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Statuette of the Personification of a City
  • Date: 300–500
  • Culture: Late Roman or Byzantine
  • Medium: Copper alloy
  • Dimensions: Overall: 10 1/16 x 5 11/16 x 4 1/16 in. (25.5 x 14.4 x 10.3 cm)
  • Classification: Metalwork-Copper alloy
  • Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1947
  • Object Number: 47.100.40
  • Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Crossbow Brooch, Gold, Late Roman or Byzantine
Crossbow Brooch
Late Roman or Byzantine
ca. 430
Wing Brooch, Silver, gold, and four carnelians, Roman
Wing Brooch
Roman
100–200
Disk Brooch with Cameo, Sheet gold, onyx, glass, and wire, Langobardic (mount); Roman (cameo)
Disk Brooch with Cameo
Langobardic (mount); Roman (cameo)
ca. 600 (mount); 100–300 (cameo)
Bowl Fragments with Menorah, Shofar, and Torah Ark, Glass, gold leaf, Roman
Bowl Fragments with Menorah, Shofar, and Torah Ark
Roman
300–350
Brooch in the Form of a Panther, Copper alloy inlaid with silver and niello, Roman
Brooch in the Form of a Panther
Roman
100–300

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.