Marble Table with Chimera's Head, National Museum, Naples, Italy c. 20th century

Editor: This drawing depicts a marble table with chimera heads, housed in the National Museum in Naples. It's so intriguing! What symbols do you see at play here? Curator: The chimera, a hybrid creature, often represents a convergence of power, vigilance, and the unknown. The pairing suggests a balance, doesn't it? A guardian at each side. Editor: I didn't think of them as guardians, that's a great point! Curator: Consider the table itself, a place of gathering, feasting, perhaps even negotiation. How do the chimeras influence our perception of that space? Editor: Interesting, I see how the chimera's image can change the table from just a place to eat to something more symbolic. Thanks!