Mirror with Engraved Scene: Thesan and Memnun (Eos and Memnon)
Unknown Artist
c. 470–460 BCE
Medium
bronze
Dimensions
h. 19.8 cm · diam. 14.4 cm
Classification
Metalwork
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
Accession Number
1952.259
About this artwork
Two figures occupy the reverse side of this nearly circular bronze mirror, neatly enclosed by a continuous ivy-leaf border. Equipped with wings and winged shoes, the dawn goddess Thesan (Eos) carries the body of her son Memnun (Memnon). Slain by Achilles on the battlefield at Troy, he still wears armor and greaves, though his crested helmet has fallen below. The subject occurs on several other Etruscan mirrors and Greek vases of the same time period, though not nearly as frequently as scenes of ...