Ornament in the shape of a griffin head
Unknown Artist
ca. 5th century BCE
Medium
Gold
Dimensions
0.75 x 0.81 x 1 in. (1.91 x 2.06 x 2.54 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Ornaments
Culture
Sarmatian
Department
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Alastair Bradley Martin, 1951
Accession Number
51.125.7
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite gold ornament, shaped as a griffin head, hails from the Sarmatian culture of the ancient Eurasian steppes around the 5th century BCE. Measuring just 0.75 x 0.81 x 1 inches, this tiny masterpiece exemplifies the nomadic Sarmatians' mastery of fine metalwork. Crafted from pure gold, it was likely used to adorn clothing, horse gear, or weapons, reflecting the wealth and mobility of these warrior horsemen who roamed from the Black Sea to Central Asia. Griffins—mythical beasts with eagle heads and lion bodies—were potent symbols in Sarmatian art, embodying strength, vigilance, and o...