Greenstone polyhedron inscribed with letters of the Greek alphabet

2nd–1st century BCE

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 171

The polyhedron has 20 sides, each inscribed with a letter of the Greek alphabet from A (alpha) to Y (upsilon), so that only the last four letters (phi, chi, psi, and omega) are missing. See a faience example (37.11.3) also displayed in this case.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

References

Title: Greenstone polyhedron inscribed with letters of the Greek alphabet
Period: Late Hellenistic
Date: 2nd–1st century BCE
Culture: Greek
Medium: Greenstone
Dimensions: Width (point to point greatest width): 3 3/8 in., 22.9oz. (8.6 cm, 647.9g)
Width (point to point smallest): 3 5/16 in. (8.4 cm)
Width (Side to side): 2 13/16 in. (7.2 cm)
Classification: Miscellaneous-Stone
Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1927
Object Number: 27.122.5
Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

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