Relief Panel with Two Griffins Drinking from a Cup

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The mythical griffin, a creature with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion, often appeared in Christian contexts. The representation of two confronted griffins is derived from ancient Near Eastern art, and the composition of this relief was probably based on imported textile designs. Another panel in Sorrento depicts griffins in a similar style, suggesting both came from the Old Cathedral there. They probably were part of the choir screen, the partition separating the altar area from the rest of the church.

Medieval Art and The Cloisters

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Museum's collection of medieval and Byzantine art is among the most comprehensive in the world. Displayed in both The Met Fifth Avenue and in the Museum's branch in northern Manhattan, The Met Cloisters, the collection encompasses the art of the Mediterranean and Europe from the fall of Rome in the fourth century to the beginning of the Renaissance in the early sixteenth century. It also includes pre-medieval European works of art created during the Bronze Age and early Iron Age.

Metropolitan Museum of Art