chryselephantine

/ˌkrɪsɛləˈfæntɪn/

Use chryselephantine to describe ancient Greek sculpture that's made of ivory and gold.

In the 6th century, chryselephantine figures commonly adorned the insides of temples, depicting gods and goddesses. These sculptures, built on wooden frames, used ivory for the deities' bodies and faces, and sheets of hammered gold to represent their hair, clothing, and armor. Chryselephantine is derived from Greek roots, khrysos, "gold, " and elephans, which means both "elephant" and "ivory."

Definitions of chryselephantine

1. adjective

   made of or adorned with gold and ivory, usually applied to ancient Greek sculpture or artwork