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Restituted in January 2006 This work of art has been removed from the Museum's permanent collection. Learn more about The Met's collecting practices.

Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.

Silver-gilt pyxis (box) with lid

Greek, South Italian or Sicilian

3rd century BCE

Not on view

On underside of base, incised and punch-dotted inscriptions

The relief on the lid is rich in symbolic content. Eros crowns himself with a fillet while leaning on an inverted flaming torch, a motif that on Roman sarcophagi came to signify death. The subject of the relief could be interpreted as the triumph over death, or the promise of a happy afterlife.

Silver-gilt pyxis (box) with lid, Gilt silver, Greek, South Italian or Sicilian — Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Silver-gilt pyxis (box) with lid, Gilt silver, Greek, South Italian or Sicilian

Silver-gilt pyxis (box) with lid, Gilt silver, Greek, South Italian or Sicilian

Silver-gilt pyxis (box) with lid, Gilt silver, Greek, South Italian or Sicilian

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Silver-gilt pyxis (box) with lid

Period: Hellenistic

Date: 3rd century BCE

Culture: Greek, South Italian or Sicilian

Medium: Gilt silver

Dimensions: 1 × 3 7/8 × 3 9/16 in. (2.5 × 9.8 × 9 cm)

Classification: Gold and Silver

Credit Line: Lent by the Republic of Italy — Sicilian Region

Accession Number: L.2015.2.14

The Met

Greek and Roman Art at The Met

The Museum's collection of Greek and Roman art comprises more than 30,000 works ranging in date from the Neolithic period to the time of the Roman emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity in A.D. 312.