Gold earring with winged Eros
Unknown Artist
3rd‒2nd century BCE
Medium
Gold
Dimensions
Other: 1/2 x 3/8 x 7/16 in. (1.3 x 0.9 x 1.1 cm)
Classification
Gold and Silver
Culture & Period
Greek · Hellenistic
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
Accession Number
74.51.3520
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite gold earring, a winged Eros from the Hellenistic period (3rd–2nd century BCE), showcases the masterful jewelry craftsmanship of ancient Greece. Measuring just 1/2 x 3/8 x 7/16 inches, its diminutive scale belies the intricate detail: Eros, the mischievous god of love, is depicted in dynamic flight, wings spread and body gracefully arched—a hallmark of Hellenistic art's emphasis on movement, emotion, and realism Alexander the Great's conquests. Crafted in pure gold, the earring exemplifies the technical virtuosity of Greek goldsmiths, likely employing techniques like granulation...