The Pylos Combat Agate; a Minoan gold-capped sealstone of the Mycenaean period, which depicts a battle scene of two warriors while a third one lies dead. It was discoverd at the Grave of the Griffin Warrior, Pylos, Greece, & it’s dated to 1450 BCE ca. Arch. mus. of Chora, SN18-0112 [8898 x 7339]
by -introuble2
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It’s perhaps the largest photo I have found of this marvelous artifact.
photo via the Getty museum in [https://www.getty.edu/news/getty-exhibition-explores-the-splendors-of-mycenaean-greece/](https://www.getty.edu/news/getty-exhibition-explores-the-splendors-of-mycenaean-greece/)
The level of detail, anatomy and sense of movement on this is incredible. Almost unbelievable this is from nearly 3,500 years ago.
I would also add that it is only 3.4 cm.
It is an incredible find and it had profoundly changed our understanding of artistic history of the Minoan civilization.
Got a chance to see this at the Getty Villa a couple weekends ago. What you don’t get a sense for is how small it is! It’s tiny, the detail is amazing.