Ancient CyprusAncient Cyprus
Limestone finial of a votive stele (?) with a lion and a male sphinx, Archaic II Cypriot statue

Archaic II

Limestone finial of a votive stele (?) with a lion and a male sphinx

Cippi topped by lions or sphinxes come mainly from Golgoi or Idalion. Both the lion and the sphinx were introduced to Cyprus from Egypt as guardians of tombs. The sphinx's beard is typical of Cypriot iconography, while its headdress is Egyptian. WebPub GR 2012 Cesnola: 15 1/2 × 9 3/4 × 10 1/4 in., 31 lb. (39.4 × 24.8 × 26 cm, 14.1 kg)

Date

575 - 525 BC

Accession No.

74.51.2551

Collection

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Provenance

  • Sanctuary of Golgoi-Ayios Photios (?)

References

  • Cesnola, Luigi Palma di. 1885. A Descriptive Atlas of the Cesnola Collection of Cypriote Antiquities in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Vol. 1. pl. XLII.273, Boston: James R. Osgood and Company.Myres, John L. 1914. Handbook of the Cesnola Collection of Antiquities from Cyprus. no. 1021, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.Karageorghis, Vassos, Joan Mertens, and Marice E. Rose. 2000. Ancient Art from Cyprus: The Cesnola Collection in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. no. 206, pp. 136-7, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.Hermary, Antoine and Joan R. Mertens. 2013. The Cesnola Collection of Cypriot Art : Stone Sculpture. no. 365, pp. 270-71, Online Publication, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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