Pair of gold earrings with Erotes
Unknown Artist
late 4th–3rd century BCE
Medium
Gold
Dimensions
width of a 3/4 in. (1.9 cm) width of b 15/16 in. (2.4 cm)
Classification
Gold and Silver
Culture & Period
Greek · Hellenistic
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Christos G. Bastis, in honor of Philippe de Montebello, 1995
Accession Number
1995.539.8a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
These delicate gold earrings, crafted in Hellenistic Greece during the late 4th to 3rd century BCE showcase a pair of playful Erotes—winged spirits of love akin to the Roman Cupids. Adorning the ears of elite women, they measure just under an inch wide, their petite scale highlighting the exquisite finesse of ancientsmiths. Emerging in the vibrant era following Alexander the Great's conquest, Hellenistic art blended Greek ideals with Eastern influences, emphasizing naturalism, emotion, and intricate detail over the classical restraint of earlier periods. The earrings' gold medium underscores ...