Art Institute of Chicago

Architectural Relief Depicting the Gigantomachy (Battle Between Gods and Giants)

Etruscan

Date

3rd-2nd century BCE

Medium

Terracotta and pigment

Culture

Etruria

Department

Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

As the name suggests, the Gigantomachy was the struggle between and the Giants and the Olympian gods, who were led by Zeus. In flowing robes, a god and goddess capture a Giant, depicted with wings and serpent-like features, to deliver the final blow in this epic battle. These three animated figures were probably once part of a series of ornamental covers called antefixes, which were placed along the lowest row of roof tiles on a small building, probably a temple. Etruscans often decorated their buildings with brightly colored sculptural compositions based on Greek mythology.

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