Architectural Relief Depicting the Gigantomachy (Battle Between Gods and Giants) c. 3th century

This terracotta relief from the 3rd century CE depicts a scene from the Gigantomachy, the battle between the Olympian gods and the Giants in Greek mythology. The relief is a fragment, missing its top section and some of the figures. The remaining figures suggest a fierce struggle between a winged giant and a god, with the giant depicted in a dynamic, serpentine pose and the god with a draped figure. The piece displays the Etruscan artistic style, which was heavily influenced by Greek art and incorporated many elements from classical Greek mythology. This relief, currently located at the Art Institute of Chicago, is a testament to the Etruscan fascination with the mythical battles of the ancient world.