Marble Panel with a Griffin in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, August 2007

Marble Panel with a Griffin
Byzantine, possibly from Greece or the Balkans
Carved 1250-1300

Accession # 2000.81

In the ancient world, the mythical beasts called griffins were symbols of royalty and protectors of the dead. They continued to play these roles for Christians. A legend popular in the Byzantine era told of griffins carrying Alexander the Great through the heavens so he could view his vast realm. Carved griffins like this one are found on later Byzantine tombs, where they may have been placed to identify the dead as of royal status and to afford them protection. The design of the relief is similar to patterns on Byzantine and Islamic silks.

Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.