ticketsMember | Make a donation

Bronze handle of a patera (shallow basin) in the form of a youth

ca. late 6th century BCE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 155
During the late sixth and fifth centuries B.C., paterae with figural handles were produced in Greece as well as Southern Italy. The cicada-like insect under the youth's feet recalls the myth of Eos, the goddess of dawn, and her Trojan lover, Tithonos, whom the god Zeus made immortal at Eos's behest. Because she forgot to request eternal youth for Tithonos, he grew old and shriveled away until nothing remained but a wizened, chirping cicada.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Bronze handle of a patera (shallow basin) in the form of a youth
  • Period: Archaic
  • Date: ca. late 6th century BCE
  • Culture: Greek
  • Medium: Bronze
  • Dimensions: 6 3/4 x 2 5/8 x 5/8 in. (17.1 x 6.7 x 1.6 cm)
  • Classification: Bronzes
  • Credit Line: Gift of Stark and Michael Ward, in honor of Carlos A. Picón, 2005
  • Object Number: 2005.457
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Bronze footbath with its stand, Bronze, Greek
Bronze footbath with its stand
Greek
late 5th–early 4th century BCE
Bronze neck-amphora (jar) with lid and bail handle, Bronze, Greek
Bronze neck-amphora (jar) with lid and bail handle
Greek
last quarter of the 6th century BCE
Bronze diskos thrower, Bronze, Greek
Bronze diskos thrower
Greek
ca. 480–460 BCE
Bronze statuette of a horse, Bronze, Greek
Bronze statuette of a horse
Greek
late 2nd–1st century BCE
Bronze rod tripod stand, Bronze, Greek
Bronze rod tripod stand
Greek
early 6th century BCE

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.