Arrowhead
Unknown Artist
ca. 480–330 BCE
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
Other: 2 3/4in. (7cm)
Classification
Bronzes
Culture & Period
Greek, Cypriot · Classical
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
Accession Number
74.51.5342
Art Historical Context
This slender bronze arrowhead, crafted around 480–330 BCE by an unknown Cypriot artisan during the Classical Greek period, offers a glimpse into the martial world of ancient Cyprus. Measuring just 2¾ inches (7 cm), it exemplifies the island's renowned bronzeworking tradition, where functional weapons doubled as testaments to skilled metallurgy. Cyprus, at the crossroads of Greek, Near Eastern, and Egyptian influences, produced bronzes prized for their durability and precision, often cast using lost-wax techniques that allowed intricate detailing. In the Classical era, such arrowheads armed wa...