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Game Piece with Hercules Slaying the Three-Headed Geryon

ca. 1150
On view at The Met Cloisters in Gallery 14
This carved disk was originally part of a set of thirty pieces made for the board game known as "tables," a precursor of backgammon. Classical and biblical themes are seen frequently on surviving tableman, including episodes from the stories of Hercules and Samson, suggesting that these ancient heroes often represented opposing sides in the game. Here, Hercules, at left, is shown killing the three-headed monster Geryon—his tenth Labor. The monster, now slain, is represented again at the bottom of the scene. Like many other examples this tableman retains traces of paint. Color allowed one side to be easily distinguished from the other side, which was often left unpainted.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Game Piece with Hercules Slaying the Three-Headed Geryon
  • Date: ca. 1150
  • Geography: Made in Cologne, Germany
  • Culture: German
  • Medium: Ivory
  • Dimensions: Overall: 2 3/4 in. (7 cm)
  • Classification: Ivories-Walrus
  • Credit Line: The Cloisters Collection, 1970
  • Object Number: 1970.324.4
  • Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters

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Game Piece with a Scene from the Life of Apollonius of Tyre, Walrus ivory, German
Game Piece with a Scene from the Life of Apollonius of Tyre
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Game Piece with the Blinded Samson Led by a Boy to the Philistine Temple of Dagon, Walrus ivory, German
Game Piece with the Blinded Samson Led by a Boy to the Philistine Temple of Dagon
German
ca. 1150
Game Piece with an Eagle Attacking a Hare, Walrus ivory, German
Game Piece with an Eagle Attacking a Hare
German
ca. 1100–1200
Diptych with Scenes of the Life of Christ and the Virgin, Saint Michael, John the Baptist, Thomas Becket, and the Trinity, Elephant ivory, German
Diptych with Scenes of the Life of Christ and the Virgin, Saint Michael, John the Baptist, Thomas Becket, and the Trinity
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ca. 1350
The Cloisters Cross, Walrus ivory, British
The Cloisters Cross
British
ca. 1150–60

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