Limestone dog
Unknown Artist
ca. 4th–3rd century BCE
Medium
Limestone
Dimensions
WebPub GR 2012 Cesnola: 17 3/4 × 6 3/8 × 11 in., 42 lb. (45.1 × 16.2 × 27.9 cm, 19.1 kg)
Classification
Stone Sculpture
Culture & Period
Cypriot · Late Classical or Early Hellenistic
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
Accession Number
74.51.2623
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delightful limestone sculpture of a dog, dating to around the 4th–3rd century BCE, captures spirited essence of a beloved animal from ancient Cyprus. Carved from a single block of limestone—a durable local material favored for its workability—the figure stands about 17¾ inches tall, embodying the Late Classical or Early Hellenistic period. Its compact form (17¾ × 6⅜ × 11 inches, weighing 42 pounds) suggests it may have served as a votive offering or guardian figure in a sanctuary, highlighting everyday companions in Cypriot life. Cypriot art during this era blended Greek, Near Eastern, a...