Plaque with Apollo in the Walters Art Museum, September 2009

Plaque with Apollo


Creators: Byzantine (Artist) or Coptic (Artist)

Period: 3rd-4th century (Late Antique)

Medium: bone (Ivory & Bone)

Accession Number: 71.43

Measurements: 5 3/4 x 2 3/16 x 13/16 in. (14.7 x 5.5 x 2 cm)

Geographies: Egypt (Place of Origin)

Following the traditions of Greek sculpture, Apollo is shown leaning languidly against a tree with one arm resting on his lyre (harp). Mythological figures, although pagan, continued to be used as decorative motifs in Christian Egypt as a sign of upper-class learning and culture. The curve of the plaque reflects the shape of the bone from which it was carved.

Text from: art.thewalters.org/detail/5120/plaque-with-apollo/