Inv. Scu 302

The statue represents young Leda holding in her lap Zeus, in the form of a swan. The representation could be a modification of the 4th century BC group attributed to Timotheos and found in many copies of the 1st century BC.

The girl, leaning on the trunk of a tree, is only partially covered by a very light chiton , knotted on her left shoulder and sensually slipping away leaving her nearly naked. Her left hand, in a gesture of protection, holds up the hem of a himation to prevent the eagle (as is told in the myth) from catching the swan.

The swan, resting on the the girl’s right knee and held by her right hand, appears to search for her gaze with its long neck outstretched in the effort. The girl’s face is instead turned upwards towards her left: an expedient that seems to give to the scene a sort of ineluctability and almost resignation to the impending union.

The work dates to the Hadrianic period. It was found in Rome.