1923.16
Caldron Protome in the Form of a Griffin
Artist
Artist Unidentified (Greek)
Title
Caldron Protome in the Form of a Griffin
Creation Date
ca. 620 BC-600 BC
Century
7th century BCE
Dimensions
6 1/8 in. x 2 3/16 in. x 6 1/2 in. (15.5 cm. x 5.6 cm. x 16.5 cm.)
Classification
Sculpture
Creation Place
Ancient Mediterranean, Greece
Medium and Support
hollow case bronze
Credit Line
Gift of Edward Perry Warren, Esq., Honorary Degree, 1926
Copyright
This artwork may be under copyright. For further information, please consult the Museum’s
Copyright Terms and Conditions.
Accession Number
1923.16
Protomes were figural projections used on ancient cauldrons. They were also given as prizes to victorious athletes and dedicated at Greek sanctuaries. Exotic and mythical beasts, such as lions, griffins, and sphinxes, were favorite subjects. Griffins, in particular, alluded to Near Eastern influences and suggested connections to a world beyond Greece.
The city of Corinth, strategically situated on an isthmus, served as the gateway between Greece and the outside world. Corinth became a natural conduit for trade goods from the eastern Mediterranean and export to the west. Corinthian art was among the earliest to reflect the reopening contact with the Near East and Egypt.