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Sleep and Death Cista Handle | musefully
Sleep and Death Cista Handle, 400–375 BC. bronze, with base: 18.5 x 18.3 cm (7 5/16 x 7 3/16 in.); without base: 14 x 17.4 cm (5 1/2 x 6 7/8 in.). Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund, 1945.13. CC0.
Sleep and Death Cista Handle
400–375 BC
Maker Unknown
Greek and Roman Art
Sleep and Death Cista Handle, 400–375 BC. Italy, Etruscan, early 4th Century BC. Bronze; with base: 18.5 x 18.3 cm (7 5/16 x 7 3/16 in.); without base: 14 x 17.4 cm (5 1/2 x 6 7/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1945.13 Designed for attachment to the lid of a large bronze cista, a cylindrical lidded box, these three figures probably represent Sleep (Hypnos) and Death (Thanatos) holding the body of Sarpedon. A son of Zeus who helped to defend Troy from invading Greek forces, "godlike Sarpedon of the brazen helmet" fell at the hands of Patroclus, as told by Homer in Book XVI of the Iliad. Apollo then intervened to protect the body, removing it from danger and entrusting it to the two winged deities, as depicted here and in a number of other ancient artworks, Greek and Etruscan alike. If not Sarpedon, the fallen warrior could be Memnon, the son of Eos and Tithonos slain by Achilles. These three figures were cast in eight separate pieces, then welded together and attached to the rectangular base.