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Chimera

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Chimera, by Unknown Artist, is a sculpture of a mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body of a lion-like animal. The creature has a large head with a snarling mouth at one end. A second head, possibly a goat's head, protrudes from the middle of the creature's back. The creature's body curves around to form a tail that ends in the head of a snake. The sculpture is made of dark metal, possibly bronze, and has a rough, weathered texture. The creature appears to be lying on its side with its legs tucked underneath its body. The background of the image is a plain gray color.

Artwork Details

Date
1st century BCE–1st century CE
Medium
Cast gold
Culture
China
Dimensions
526 × 624 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette