A MINOAN BANDED AGATE LENTOID

LATE MINOAN II-III, CIRCA 1450-1200 B.C.

Details

A MINOAN BANDED AGATE LENTOID
LATE MINOAN II-III, CIRCA 1450-1200 B.C.
Engraved with a composite creature combining the lower torso and legs of a man joined to the forequarters of two lions, each bent back and shown in top view, the paws framing the head, each gripping a small quadruped, perhaps a calf, in its jaws
¾ in. (1.9 cm.) diameter

Provenance

Private Collection, Paris, prior to 1975.
Private Collection, Paris, 1975; thence by descent.

If you wish to view the condition report of this lot, please sign in to your account.

View condition report

Lot Essay

According to Krzyszkowska (p. 207 in Aegean Seals, An Introduction), "Among the most striking images in Aegean glyptic are the 'minotaurs', strange creatures combining human and animal parts, which appear during LM II-III. Ordinarily they have the lower limbs and waist of a man, joined to the forequarters and head of an animal. This is frequently a bull -- hence the conventional term 'minotaur' -- but sometimes the forequarters of a wild goat, stag or lion are found." An occasional variant shows two animal forequarters, as visible here. For an example with the forequarters of a bull and a goat, see no. 398 in Krzyszkowska, op. cit.

More from Ancient Jewelry

View All