Nereid on pistrice (sea-monster)

myminifactory

This ancient marble sculpture originated from Greece, specifically from the Peloponnese region. It showcases a Nereid sitting on a Pistrice. The Nereids were fifty sea nymphs in Greek mythology, daughters of Nereus and Doris, who assisted sailors during turbulent storms at sea. They resided with their father in the depths of the Aegean Sea. One notable Nereid was Thetis, mother of the legendary hero Achilles. The Pistrice is a mythical sea creature from Greek and Roman mythology, depicted as having a snake's tail. It appears in depictions of Neptune's marches and other marine deities, as well as on ancient nautical maps through to the Renaissance period. The Pistrice symbolized fear towards the unknown. In the Middle Ages, it evolved into a hybrid creature combining features of a fox and a marine snake during the Carolingian period. This sculpture was reused as decorative elements for fountains in later times.