Architectural Relief Depicting the Gigantomachy (Battle Between Gods and Giants)

Description

As the name suggests, the Gigantomachy was the struggle between and the Giants and the Olympian gods, who were led by Zeus. In flowing robes, a god and goddess capture a Giant, depicted with wings and serpent-like features, to deliver the final blow in this epic battle. These three animated figures were probably once part of a series of ornamental covers called antefixes, which were placed along the lowest row of roof tiles on a small building, probably a temple. Etruscans often decorated their buildings with brightly colored sculptural compositions based on Greek mythology.

Provenance

Private collection, Switzerland [according to Bruce McAlpine in committee meeting minutes; copy in curatorial object file]; acquired by Bruce (b. 1947) and Ingrid McAlpine (1939-2018), London, England, by 1984; sold to the Art Institute, 1984.

Architectural Relief Depicting the Gigantomachy (Battle Between Gods and Giants)

Ancient Etruscan

3rd-2nd century BCE

Accession Number

111030

Medium

Terracotta and pigment

Dimensions

45.8 × 46 × 21.9 cm (18 1/16 × 18 1/8 × 8 5/8 in.)

Classification

architectural fragment

Museum

The Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago, United States

Credit Line

Katherine K. Adler Memorial Fund