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Chimera of Arezzo

The Chimera of Arezzo is one of the best-known examples of Etruscan art. This bronze sculpture was discovered on 15 November 1553 in Tuscany during construction of the Medici fortifications near Arezzo. It is about 80 cm high and is dated to the late 5th or early 4th century BC. The figure shows the mythical creature in its death throes, wounded and with the goat’s head turned aside. An inscription on the right front paw, TINSCVIL, is generally read as a dedication to the Etruscan god Tinia, suggesting the bronze was a votive object. After passing through several Medici collections, it is now in the National Archaeological Museum of Florence.

Bronze Chimera of Arezzo with a lion’s body, a goat’s head on its back, and a raised snake tail.
The Chimera of Arezzo, a bronze sculpture showing the mythical beast with a lion’s body, goat’s head, and snake tail.
October 2020 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Chimera of Arezzo bronze sculpture showing a lion with a goat’s head on its back and a snake tail.
The Chimera of Arezzo, an Etruscan bronze sculpture depicting the mythical beast in a tense crouching pose.
May 2007 © · Public domain
The Chimera of Arezzo, a bronze sculpture of a lion with a goat’s head on its back and a serpent tail, shown in a lunging pose.
The Chimera of Arezzo, an ancient bronze sculpture depicting a lion with a goat’s head and serpent tail.
1878 © · No restrictions
Black and white illustration of the Chimera of Arezzo, a crouching mythical creature with a lion\'s body, a goat\'s head on its back, and a raised serpent tail.
The Chimera of Arezzo shown in a detailed black-and-white engraving.
1906 © Nordisk familjebok (1906) · Public domain
A woman works on the open mouth of the Chimera of Arezzo sculpture with a slender tool.
A close view of the Chimera of Arezzo during restoration work, with a woman carefully working inside the sculpture’s mouth.
July 2000 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleChimera of Arezzo
TypeBronze sculpture; votive object; aristocratic ex-voto
Original language nameLa Quimera de Arezzo; Quimera de Arezzo; Quimera de Arezo; Quimera de Arécio; Chimera z Arezzo

Historical context

CultureEtruscan
DateLast quarter of the 5th century BC to beginning of the 4th century BC; around 400 BC; first half of the 4th century BC; probably 5th century BC

Creator

TechniqueLost-wax casting
Probable originProbably from a workshop in northern Etruria, possibly Orvieto, Chiusi, or Arezzo

Materials

MaterialBronze

Physical characteristics

Inscription locationOn the right foreleg; on the front right leg
DimensionsHeight and maximum length are not specified in the fragment
Inscription languageEtruscan
HeightAbout 80 cm
InscriptionTINSCVIL
Current tail18th-century restoration
Condition at discoveryMissing the snake tail and the left front and rear paws

Appearance

Original appearance recorded at discoveryA natural-size bronze lion with a fierce appearance, wounded in the left thigh, with a bristling mane and gaping jaws, carrying the head of a slain goat on its back
Tail reconstruction detailThe serpent head on the tail bites one horn of the goat head; this is considered a mistaken reconstruction
SubjectThe Chimera from Greek mythology
Depicted conditionAlready wounded; shown after receiving a wound inflicted by Bellerophon
PoseDefensive posture
IconographyThree-headed monster with a lion's head and body, a goat head on its back, and a serpent head at the end of its tail

Iconography and meaning

Mythological narrativeThe Chimera devastated Lycia until slain by Bellerophon
Associated figureBellerophon, riding Pegasus
Associated figuresProbably part of a larger group with Bellerophon and Pegasus; the Bellerophon figure has not been found
Associated deityTinia, the Etruscan chief god and equivalent of Zeus
Inscription meaningOffering/dedicated to Tinia
Religious significanceVotive object dedicated to Tinia

Discovery and provenance

Identification byGiorgio Vasari
Original ownershipClaimed for the collection of Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Recovered fragmentA section of the tail was recovered among bronze pieces brought to Florence
Method of identificationBy studying ancient Greek and Roman coins, including a silver stater showing the Chimera
Discovery date15 November 1553
Initial identificationInitially thought to be a lion because the tail was missing
Associated findsFound with numerous bronze statuettes and other bronze pieces, including children, birds, animals, a horse, and other small votive offerings to Tinia
Discovery contextFound accidentally while trenches were being dug outside the city walls during construction of the Medici fortifications; it was buried in antiquity as part of a bronze hoard/votive deposit for safekeeping
Discovery placeArezzo, near Porta San Laurentino, Tuscany, Italy
Ancient context of findspotAn ancient Etruscan and Roman city in Tuscany; a religious sanctuary near the ancient Etruscan town of Arezzo

Location and ownership

Current locationNational Archaeological Museum of Florence, Florence
Replica in MunichA bronze cast made in 2015 for a special exhibition, now displayed outside the Antiquities Collection at Königsplatz
Replica near findspotA bronze replica stands near the discovery site at Porta San Laurentino in Arezzo
Current statusStill preserved there today
Later locationPalazzo della Crocetta, now the National Archaeological Museum of Florence
Later locationUffizi Gallery
Transfer year1718
Later storage locationCosimo I de' Medici's studiolo in Palazzo Pitti
Early display locationPalazzo Vecchio, Hall of Leo X

History and restoration

Restoration historyThe tail was restored in 1784 or 1785 by Francesco Carradori, possibly with input from Luigi Lanzi or by Innocenzo Spinazzi; later restored again in the 19th century. The Cellini restoration is considered legendary and unconfirmed
Restoration noteThe replacement serpent tail is incorrectly positioned so that it bites the goat's horn rather than turning against the attacker

Significance

Historical interpretationCourt intellectuals considered it a symbol of Medici domination of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany
Art historical significanceOne of the most famous examples of Etruscan art

Other

Comparative objectThe National Archaeological Museum of Florence preserves another similar chimera (inventory no. 23), 44 cm high, cast bronze, 4th century BC, with unknown provenance and once in the collection of Christine of Lorraine
Contemporary archival sourceDeliberazioni del Magistrato, dei Priori e del Consiglio Generale, preserved in the State Archives of Arezzo, folio 102r
Related anecdoteBenvenuto Cellini reported that Cosimo I de' Medici enjoyed cleaning the smaller bronzes himself with goldsmiths' tools
Design influenceAdidas was inspired by the Chimera for the official FIFA World Cup 1990 ball Etrusco; the ball's trinity motif has some resemblance to the sculpture