Tickets
English
DonateMembershipTickets

Gold armband with Herakles knot

3rd–2nd century BCE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 163
The Herakles knot on this sumptuous armband is enriched with floral decoration and inlaid with garnets, emeralds, and enamel. According to the Roman writer Pliny, the decorative device of the Herakles knot could cure wounds, and its popularity in Hellenistic jewelry suggests that it was thought to have the power to avert evil.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Gold armband with Herakles knot
  • Period: Hellenistic
  • Date: 3rd–2nd century BCE
  • Culture: Greek
  • Medium: Gold inlaid with garnets, emeralds, and enamel
  • Dimensions: 3 1/2in. (8.9cm)
  • Classification: Gold and Silver
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Mr. and Mrs. Christos G. Bastis Gift, 1999
  • Object Number: 1999.209
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Bell, Leaded bronze, Greek
Bell
Greek
3rd or 4th century BCE (?)
Adoration of the Shepherds, Basse-taille and painted enamel on silver; gilt-silver frame mounted with silver and partly enameled gold, and set with emeralds and pearls, Italian, Lombardy, probably Milan
Adoration of the Shepherds
Italian, Lombardy, probably Milan
late 15th century
Pair of gold armbands, Gold, Greek
Pair of gold armbands
Greek
ca. 200 BCE
Cauldron attachment: bull's head, Bronze
Cauldron attachment: bull's head
ca. 7th century BCE
Necklace, Meta Overbeck American, Gold, emeralds, Montana sapphires, topazes, enamel, American
Necklace
Meta Overbeck
Louis C. Tiffany
Manufacturer Tiffany & Co.
ca. 1914–15

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries and chronologies from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.