sans-merci:

Casket with Warriors in Combat

10th-11th century

Byzantine Empire

The Walters Art Museum

On this casket, traditional representations of the Labors of Herakles (Hercules) have been transformed into scenes of curly-haired cupids engaged in various forms of military combat. The object thus gives us a good impression of the lighter, at times comical quality of Byzantine secular art. Such boxes were probably used to hold valuables or important documents.

(via arthistorycq)

Tags: medieval