Dying Niobid

myminifactory

A young woman slumps against the rocky ground, her back arched as she strains to yank out the arrow lodged between her shoulder blades. The sculpture is complete with an arrow and bronze earrings. She stands out due to her still-young figure, allowing her to be easily identified as a Niobid right after suffering from a fatal injury described in the myth of the killing of the Niobids. Niobe's children bring her great pride, but she incurs Leto's wrath by boasting about them. As punishment, Leto orders Apollo and Artemis to use their arrows to kill seven sons and seven daughters born to her rival.\r\nThe dying Niobid is likely one of a group that includes her mother, sisters, and brothers who were attacked with arrows by Apollo and Artemis. The Niobid of Palazzo Massimo is part of this sculptural group, along with a Running Niobid and a Lying Niobid (Copenhagen, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek), both found in the same area as the Horti Sallustiani.