The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 20, 2024

Jonah Cast Up

280–90 CE

Anatolia, late Roman-early Christian

marble

Overall: 41.5 x 36 x 18.5 cm (16 5/16 x 14 3/16 x 7 5/16 in.)

John L. Severance Fund 1965.238

Location: 104 Late Antiquity

Did You Know?

The fearsome creature spitting Jonah out of its mouth is a creation of the artist's imagination derived from the ancient Greek cetos, a sea monster. Like other mythical beasts, such as the griffin and the sphinx, this monster combines elements of several different animals. Which ones do you see when looking at this fantastical creature?

Description

After disobeying the Lord’s command to proclaim judgment on the city of Nineveh, the Old Testament prophet Jonah was cast into the sea and swallowed by a sea monster. He spent three days praying inside the beast before being cast ashore. Here, the beast spits Jonah out of its mouth.

According to William Wixom, one unconfirmed report tells us that the entire group (1965.237-1965.247) was found in a single, huge pithos or jar.
?-1965
(J. J. Klejman, New York, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
1965-
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
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{{cite web|title=Jonah Cast Up|url=false|author=|year=280–90 CE|access-date=20 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1965.238