ticketsMember | Make a donation

Bronze cista (toiletries box)

ca. 325–275 BCE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 170
The engraved cylindrical frieze shows Hercules, wearing his lion skin and brandishing his club as he fights the Amazons with fellow Greek warriors. On the lid, dragon- and horse-headed sea monsters flank a dolphin. The solid-cast lion's-paw feet have attachments in the shape of a crouching lion. The handle shows a nude man and woman standing with their outer arms akimbo.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Bronze cista (toiletries box)
  • Period: Hellenistic
  • Date: ca. 325–275 BCE
  • Culture: Praenestine
  • Medium: Bronze
  • Dimensions: H. 16 in. (40.6 cm)
  • Classification: Bronzes
  • Credit Line: Gift of Courtland Field Bishop, 1922
  • Object Number: 22.84.2a, b
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Bronze cista (toiletries box), Bronze, Praenestine
Bronze cista (toiletries box)
Praenestine
ca. 325–300 BCE
Pair of bronze cista (toiletries box) feet with panthers attacking cranes, Bronze, Praenestine
Pair of bronze cista (toiletries box) feet with panthers attacking cranes
Praenestine
ca. 350–300 BCE
Bronze cista (toiletries box), Bronze, Praenestine
Bronze cista (toiletries box)
Praenestine
ca. 350–325 BCE
Bronze handle from a cista (toiletries box), Bronze, Praenestine
Bronze handle from a cista (toiletries box)
Praenestine
4th century BCE
Bronze handle from a cista (toiletry box), Bronze, Praenestine
Bronze handle from a cista (toiletry box)
Praenestine
4th century BCE

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.