--- title: Marble Figurine of Leda Avoiding the Swan author: Nathalie Choubineh source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/19447/marble-figurine-of-leda-avoiding-the-swan/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) updated: 2024-09-19 --- # Marble Figurine of Leda Avoiding the Swan _Authored by [Nathalie Choubineh](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/nathalie.choubineh/)_ ## Image File [![Marble Figurine of Leda Avoiding the Swan](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/19447.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/19447.jpg) ## Image Caption Attic table support, depicting [Leda](https://www.worldhistory.org/Leda/) avoiding the swan, c. before 250 CE. Archaeological Museum of [Thessaloniki](https://www.worldhistory.org/Thessalonica/), [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/). Founded c. 316 BCE and located at the heart of the Thermaic Gulf in the [Aegean](https://www.worldhistory.org/aegean/), the emporium [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) of Thessaloniki might have been a marriage gift of its founder, [Cassander](https://www.worldhistory.org/Cassander/) of [Macedon](https://www.worldhistory.org/macedon/) (r. 305-297 BCE) to his new bride, Thessalonike (c. 345-295 BCE). The city lived on as a commercial hub, a mega-market of luxury goods – particularly clothes, jewellery, and perfume – and a cultural point of attraction throughout the Macedonian, [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/), Slavic, and Ottoman eras, and beyond. The *trapezophoron* (table support) in the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki was shaped to hold a marble tabletop that could be locked in when the rod attached to its underneath was fixed around the groove on the top of the [column](https://www.worldhistory.org/column/). Leda, an Aetolian princess married to King Tyndareus of [Sparta](https://www.worldhistory.org/sparta/), is depicted here in her palatial chambers or colonnades when [Zeus](https://www.worldhistory.org/zeus/), disguised as a swan, landed to chase her. In an alarming gesture resembling fighting off a storm, Leda struggles desperately to escape the whirling wing of the swan. This exciting [sculpture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Sculpture/) of a famous myth about the erotic mingling of gods with humans was a spectacular part of a piece of fine furniture coming all the way from Attica within the hoards of extravagant trading items that incessantly flowed through Thessaloniki. #### Editorial Review This human-authored image has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## About the Author Nathalie is a translator and independent researcher of dance in the ancient world with a focus on Ancient Greece and the Near East. She has published works in ancient dance, ethnomusicology, and literature. She loves learning and sharing knowledge. - [Facebook Profile](https://www.facebook.com/nathalie.choubineh/) - [Linkedin Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathalie-choubineh-035a8451/) ## External Links - [A MUSEUM FOR ALL | ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF THESSALONIKI](https://www.amth.gr/en) ## Cite This Work ### APA Choubineh, N. (2024, September 19). Marble Figurine of Leda Avoiding the Swan. *World History Encyclopedia*. ### Chicago Choubineh, Nathalie. "Marble Figurine of Leda Avoiding the Swan." *World History Encyclopedia*, September 19, 2024. . ### MLA Choubineh, Nathalie. "Marble Figurine of Leda Avoiding the Swan." *World History Encyclopedia*, 19 Sep 2024, . ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Nathalie Choubineh](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/nathalie.choubineh/ "User Page: Nathalie Choubineh"), published on 19 September 2024. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.