Plaque with a Beautiful Scylla in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, March 2018

Pair of terracotta plaques with glass inlays

Period:Hellenistic

Date:late 4th century B.C.

Culture:Greek, South Italian

Medium:Terracotta, glass

Dimensions:length 5 11/16in. (14.5cm)

Classification:Terracottas

Credit Line:Purchase, Sandra Brue Gift, 1998

Accession Number:1998.210.1, .2

The Homeric sea monster Scylla raises her right hand and holds a ship’s rudder in her left. Similar terracotta plaques, which are sometimes gilt, are known to have been used to decorate funerary klinai (couches) placed in Hellenistic tombs. Funerary klinai decorated with reliefs of ivory, gold, and glass have also been discovered in the fourth century B.C. tombs of the Macedonian kings at Vergina.

Text from: www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/256901