DESCRIPTION

No M 05
Berlin, Staatliche Museen (?) Fr. 38, 2979.
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 right hand is resting on his thigh, grasping a thunderbolt. 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, which covers his left arm. 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 and the aigis. She wears a helmet, carries a shield on the left arm and holds a spear in the right hand. Her Etrsucan name is inscribed in the edge: MENFRA (?).

There are two other deities on each side of the picture. On the right a standing goddess and a sitting young warrior. Their Etruscan names are inscribed in the edge: UNI and PREALE. On the left side are a goddess, leaning on the back of the throne, and Ares, identified by the helmet and the spear. Their Etruscan names are inscribed in the edge: THALNA and LALAN.

The throne has legs, arm-rails and a back, and is decorated with curls and other geometrical figures.

As setting for the figures there is a Ionian temple in the background of the picture.

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