Statuette of the Personification of a City

Art Historical Context

This enchanting copper alloy statuette, from 300–500 AD, depicts the Personification of a City a graceful female figure likely holding a cornucopia—a horn of plenty symbolizing abundance and prosperity Standing just over 10 inches tall, the sculpture captures the classical tradition of anthropomorphizing cities as nurturing women, a motif rooted in Roman art that persisted into the early Byzantine era. Crafted during the turbulent transition from the Late Roman Empire to Byzantium, it reflects a world where urban centers were celebrated as vital sources of wealth and stability amid political u...