Gold double lion's head earring
Unknown Artist
last quarter of the 4th century BCE
Medium
Gold
Dimensions
H. 1 5/16 in. (3.3 cm) width (front to back) 1 in. (2.6 cm)
Classification
Gold and Silver
Culture & Period
Greek · Hellenistic
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1920
Accession Number
20.236
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite gold double lion's headarring, crafted in the last quarter of the 4 century BCE during the Hellenistic period, exemplifies the opulent jewelry of ancient Greece. Measuring just 1 5/16 inches (3.3 cm) high 1 inch (2.6 cm) wide, its petite scale belies its intricate design: two fierce lion heads, likely facing outward or back-to-back, forming a bold pendant. Lions, symbols of power, protection, and divine strength in Greek mythology—evoking heroes like Heracles—were popular motifs in Hellenistic art, blending realism with dramatic flair. Hellenistic goldwork, as seen here, showca...