Dying Adonis

myminifactory

Adonis lies dying on the ground, his left thigh shattered by a wild boar that has ravaged him. This young hero, beloved by both Aphrodite and Persephone, meets his demise as a result of the boar's brutal attack, whose ferocity may be seen as a manifestation of Ares' own jealousy towards Adonis. Originally a Babylonian god known as Tammuz, Adonis' Greek name is derived from the Phoenician term "Adon," meaning Lord. The Dying Adonis was a recurring theme in neoclassical sculpture, with this particular work being a replica of the original housed in Florence's Museo del Bargello. This piece, crafted by Vincenzo de' Rossi around 1560 during the Renaissance, pays homage to Michelangelo's style, as evident in his allegories of night and day found on Lorenzo de' Medici's tomb in the Medici Chapel.