Terracotta bobbin 460 BC

This terracotta bobbin, a work of anonymous creation, possibly from ancient Greece, features a winged figure and a male figure. The winged figure, often associated with Eros or Cupid, suggests themes of love, desire, and, perhaps, fate, as he seemingly encircles the male figure with what appears to be a ribbon. This gesture evokes a sense of binding or control. The act of encircling or binding appears throughout art history, such as the ancient Egyptian symbol of the serpent as a symbol of protection and power. This motif, charged with symbolic meaning, has continuously reemerged, from religious iconography to the Renaissance art. Here, the symbol of restraint also stirs feelings of desire and passion. It's a poignant reminder of how symbols can carry cultural memory and subconscious emotional weight.