Seated on a rocky throne above a fountain in a medallion, Jupiter (Zeus) points to the approaching messenger of the gods, Mercury (Hermes). The twins at the lower left represent the Gemini, and the centaur opposite them, Sagittarius—zodiac signs governed, respectively, by the planets Jupiter and Mercury. As its astrological imagery and high quality suggest, the relief may have commemorated a date of special significance for a person of importance, perhaps a member of the royal family.
