Belt Ornament in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, January 2010

Belt Ornament
Gilded copper alloy
Roman or Byzantine, possibly from Rome
Made 300s

Accession # 1993.166

A couple stands in the traditional Roman marriage pose under a Christogram on the front of this ornament; Bellerophon on the winged horse Pegasus triumphs over the mythical Chimera on the back. Classical traditions were combined with the new faith as Christianity became the dominant religion in the Empire.

Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.