Statuette of the Personification of a City

Art Historical Context

This enchanting copper alloy statuette, from 300–500 AD, depicts the Personification of a City a graceful female figure likely holding a cornucopia—a horn of plenty symbolizing abundance and prosperity Standing just over 10 inches tall, the sculpture captures the classical tradition of anthropomorphizing cities as nurturing women, a motif rooted in Roman art that persisted into the early Byzantine era. Crafted during the turbulent transition from the Late Roman Empire to Byzantium, it reflects a world where urban centers were celebrated as vital sources of wealth and stability amid political upheaval. The use of copper alloy, a durable metal favored for its workability, highlights advanced metalworking techniques of the period, such as lost-wax casting, which allowed for intricate details in drapery and attributes. Though the artist remains unknown, the statuette's stylized form bridges pagan Roman iconography with emerging Christian influences, underscoring the cultural fusion in the Eastern Mediterranean. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Medieval Art department (acquired via the Fletcher Fund in 1947), it offers a tangible glimpse into how ancient societies envisioned their cities as living, bountiful entities.