Terracotta head of a griffin
Unknown Artist
4th century BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
H. 3 1/8 in. (7.93 cm.) D. 2 7/16 in. (6.19 cm.)
Classification
Terracottas
Culture & Period
East Greek · Late Classical or Early Hellenistic
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of The American Society for the Excavation of Sardis, 1926
Accession Number
26.164.7
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite terracotta head of ain, crafted by an unknown East Greek artist in the 4th century BCE, the mythical creature's fierce majesty in miniature form. Measuring just over 3 inches high, the griffin—part eagle, part lion—gazes forward with a sharply modeled beak, piercing eyes, and tufted ears, embodying the hybrid beasts revered in ancient lore as vigilant guardians of treasures and divine realms. Hailing from the Late Classical or Early Hellenistic period, this artifact likely originated from Sardis, the Lydian capital in western Anatolia, as evidenced by its excavation history. Te...