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Hippopotamus
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This hippopotamus steps forward with its rear left leg lifted off the ground and its head arched upwards. The hippopotamus was a Nilotic animal associated with Egypt and the Nile River that was brought to Rome and put on display in the Colosseum as part of <em>venationes</em>, or wild beast hunts. The rise of “Egyptomania” in the Roman Empire surged under the emperor Hadrian (reigned AD 117–38). Extant Egyptian examples of hippopotamus figurines are less animated and made of materials such as stone or pottery rather than bronze, making the pose and materiality of this object distinctly Greco-Roman.
| Artist / Maker | Italy, Rome, Greco-Roman Period |
|---|---|
| Date | 332 BCE–395 CE |
| Culture / Origin | Italy, Rome, Greco-Roman Period |
| Medium | bronze, solid cast |
| Dimensions | Overall: 6.2 cm (2 7/16 in.) |
| Department | Greek and Roman Art |
| Type | Sculpture |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
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