DESCRIPTION

No M 03
London, British Museum 696
Bronze Etruscan Mirror

Zeus is seated on a throne. He is represented almost facing, to the same scale as the surrounding standing and sitting figures. The feet rest on a footstool. The right hand is resting on the thigh. The left arm is leaning on an arm-rail. The god has a close-cropped beard and wears his long hair loose. His dress consists of a himation. His Etruscan name is inscribed in the edge: TINIA.

Athena is represented emerging from the head of Zeus, facing. Her dress consists of a peplos. She wears a helmet, carries a shield on the left arm and holds a spear in her right hand. Her Etruscan name is inscribed in the edge: MENFRA (?).

There are two deities on each side of the picture. On the right a standing (?) goddess and a sitting bearded god. Their Etruscan names are inscribed in the edge: UNI and MARISTIUSTA. On the left side are a standing goddess and a sitting god, identified as Ares, by the helmet and the spear. Their Etruscan names are inscribed in the edge: THALNA and LARAN.

The throne has turned legs, decorated with curls, ending in a calyx upside down, and an arm-rail, decorated with geometrical figures too.

As setting for the figures there are some rocks, on both sides, and a ionian temple, in the background of the picture.

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