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Statuette of Nemesis in Form of Female Griffin with Wings

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

This griffin has the body, tail, and back legs of a lion and the head, wings, and talons of an eagle. Resting on the wheel of fate, it symbolized the goddess Nemesis, who punished people whose good luck led them into overconfidence. In Roman Egypt, the griffin with a wheel could guard tombs, but the scale and material of this statuette suggest that it was probably a gift to the goddess to ensure the donor against good luck turning bad.
MEDIUM Faience
DATES 2nd century C.E.
PERIOD Roman Period
DIMENSIONS 9 3/16 x 2 13/16 x 4 3/16 in. (23.4 x 7.2 x 10.7 cm)  (show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER 53.173
CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Blue glazed faience statuette of Nemesis in form of female griffin with wings. Right front leg supports wheel of fate. Single strand yellow necklace; breasts tipped with yellow; eyes (underglaze) black and white. Rectangular base with single incised line around edges. Four kiln marks and very hole on bottom. Condition: Right breast, wheel, front legs broken and assembled with very slight restorations at edges and breaks.
MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
CAPTION Statuette of Nemesis in Form of Female Griffin with Wings, 2nd century C.E. Faience, 9 3/16 x 2 13/16 x 4 3/16 in. (23.4 x 7.2 x 10.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 53.173. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 53.173_PS9.jpg)
IMAGE overall, 53.173_PS9.jpg., 2018
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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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