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Lebes

c. 480–460 BCE
bronze
Overall: 25.4 cm (10 in.)
Gift of the John Huntington Art and Polytechnic Trust 1928.857
Location: 102B Greek
Public Domain
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Did You Know?

The green surface found on old bronze is a corrosion product formed when copper in the metal reacts to carbon dioxide and water.

Description

This bronze cauldron has a ring base with three spool feet. Appliqués shaped like birds with the heads of women decorate the shoulder on either side of the vessel. Two handles are fastened to loops on the top of each creature’s wings. The bird-women may represent sirens, mythical creatures that lured sailors with their singing, or harpies, wind spirits that stole food from the starving.
Lebes

Lebes

c. 480–460 BCE

Greece

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