THIS ITEM HAS NOW SOLD
Fantastically detailed Victorian Plaster cast of the ancient battle of the Greek Gods and the Gigantes.
The plaque shows serpent legged giants in battle whilst in the centre a winged female god guides two soldiers on horseback. above them, in his chariot stands Zeus, ruler, protector, and father of all gods and humans.
THE GIGANTES were a tribe of a hundred giants born of the earth-goddess Gaia. According to some she was impregnated by the blood of the castrated sky-god Ouranos (Uranus).
At the urging of Gaia the Gigantes waged war on the gods and were destroyed in the ensuing battle. The most famous of the combatants were Enkelados (Enceladus) who was buried by Athena beneath Mount Etna, Polybotes who was crushed by an island cast by Poseidon, and Porphyrion who was slain by Zeus and Herakles when he attempted to violate the goddess Hera.
The Giants were depicted as either spear-wielding hoplite warriors in armour or primitives clothed in animal-skins and armed with rocks and flaming brands. In sculpture and mosaic art they were usually depicted with the tails of serpents in place of legs.
The Gigantes might have represented the primitive tribes of Thrake (Thrace), north of Greece, whose barbarian culture unfavorably contrasted with Greek civilisation. According to some, the Thrakians were born from the blood or ashes of the vanquished giants.
It has a bronze like finish and the detail is incredible considering it's age. A wonderful historical item with a truly interesting classical tale associated with it.
COLOUR: Bronze
COMPOSITION: Plaster
DIMENSIONS: (Circumference) 14cm (D) 3cm
CONDITION: Excellent. There are some small losses and nibbles to some of the giants and raised border.
PERIOD: Victorian
- Price does NOT include delivery.
- Delivery/collection must be purchased/organised separate to product purchase.
PRODUCT CODE: 0486
