Cauldron attachment in the form of a griffin protome,

ca. 600 BCE

This protome, a decorative element that takes the form of a creature’s head and upper torso, was originally part of a set that was attached to the body of a bronze cauldron. It depicts a griffin, a fantastical creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle that seems to have its origins in Near Eastern mythology. As the Greek mainland developed stronger contacts and trade with the Near East, artisans in Greece began adopting Near Eastern visual forms, and griffins, such as this example, began to appear on large bronze vessels that were given as votive offerings in religious sanctuaries. This griffin, with its pointed ears, open mouth, and incised feathers on its head and neck, seems almost about to move, confronting its viewers with its alert gaze and the suggestion of its piercing cry.