Go to Index, Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, Part XI, Part XII, Part XIII, Part XIV, Part XV, Roman Coins: Republic and Principate, Roman Coins: Empire, Greek Coins, Coins from the Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo, Coins from the National Museum in Warsaw, Poland, Coins from the Hunterian Museum
front view of model of a Roman townhouse (domus); modern
plan of this model with rooms labelled
The model is a composite of structures and decor found in houses on the Bay of Naples in the first century CE.
Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: housing
cutaway view of side of house model
cutaway detail of front part of model;
cutaway detail of back part of model
Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: house, housing, domus
detail of a shop in front part of model
These shops (tabernae) could be rented out to local shopkeepers.
Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: house, housing, domus
detail of a wine shop in front part of model
closer view of counter, amphoras, shopkeeper.
Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: house, housing, domus; thermopolium
view through front door of model
Through the door one can see through the vestibulum and the atrium into the tablinum, where two men are in conversation.
Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: house, housing, domus
detail of front of house
Shows atrium, compluvium, impluvium, two cubicula, and ala.
Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: house, housing, domus
detailed view of the tablinum.
Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: house, housing, domus
detailed
view of peristyle garden in back of house.
Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: house, housing, domus; peristylium
side view of back of house
Shows triclinium and exedra.
detail of exedra looking from top; note elaborate floor mosaic.
Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: house, housing, domus
back of house looking from top
Shows triclinium and exedra.
detail of triclinium
Note that three diners would actually recline where one is lying in this model. They would lie on their left sides with their heads facing the serving area and their feet toward the wall. Hence the three couches could accommodate 9 diners.
Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: house, housing, domus; dining room
bronze mask of a maenad; Roman, first century CE
This may have been part of the decoartion on a piece of furniture.
London. British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2003
Keywords: religion; Bacchic; Bacchae
fragment of a Roman fresco; 20-60 CE, probably from Pompeii
The fresco shows an elaborately dressed woman wearing a diadem and veil, with a servant standing next to her; this may be a depiction of Phaedra and her nurse.
London. British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2003
Keywords: Hippolytus; Euripides; Cretan mythology
statue of Juno; Roman copy of a Greek cult statue
Juno holds a scepter and a patera (shallow bowl for pouring libations). This statue is commonly known as the "Barberini Juno" or "Barberini Hera."
Rome, Vatican Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2003
Keywords: mythology
labelled plan of the Capitoline Hill
detail showing the Arx.
Adapted from plan in S.B. Platner, The Topography and Monuments of Ancient Rome (2nd ed.), fig. 62, p. 293, 1911.
Keywords: city of Rome; topography
decorated bronze handles; Etruscan
These handles depict two different aspects of divination--augury, which the Romans made part of state religion and government, and haruspicy, which was derived from the Etruscans.
Detail: augur looking up at the sky for bird signs.
Detail: haruspex looking down at the entrails of a sacrificed animal for omens.
Amsterdam, Allard Pierson Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2003
Keywords: religion; augury; auspicium; auspices
sarcophagus of Larthia Seianti;
Detail: head and upper body.
Etruscan, from Chiusi, first half of the second century BCE.
Florence, Archaeological Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: funerary; women
red-figured kylix; Attic, c. 460 BCE
Detail: Achilles stabs Penthesilea.
This is the name-giving vase of the Penthesilea Painter.
Munich, Antikensammlung. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2005
Keywords: Trojan War; amazon
bronze statuette of Jupiter; Roman, first-second century CE
Detail: head.
The god is seated on a throne; he wears a wreath and holds a scepter and a thunderbolt.
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: mythology, Zeus
terra-cotta statuette of Juno; Roman, first century CE, said to be from Tunis
The goddess is seated on a throne accompanied by a peacock; she wears a crown.
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: mythology, Hera
marble relief; Roman, c. 140-150 CE
another view. The relief
depicts Aeneas and Ascanius finding the white sow with thirty piglets, the omen which marks the location of Alba Longa.
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: Vergil; Aeneid
sard intaglio gold ring; Roman, c. 50-150 CE
The intaglio engravng depicts Aeneas leaving Troy carrying Anchises and leading Ascanius by
the hand.
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: Vergil; Aeneid; jewelry
repoussé bronze relief, perhaps a mirror cover; Greek, c. 320 BCE
Detail: heads of Aphrodite and Anchises.
Aphrodite, accompanied by two Erotes, is seated next to her lover Anchises, who is depicted
in Trojan costume with a hunting dog sleeping at his feet.
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: Vergil; Aeneid
bronze mirror back; Etruscan, late fourth century BCE
Detail: Tinia and Uni.
The god Tinia (Zeus, Jupiter) stands in the center holding in his right hand a scepter topped
with an eagle and in his left a thunderbolt. Seated to his right is Letun (Leto, Latona) with
necklace and bare torso. Standing on his left is his wife Uni (Hera, Juno), wearing a diadem
and full drapery, placing her hand possessively on Tinia's shoulder.
Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: mythology
gold bracelets decorated with 4 imperial coins; Roman, early fourth century CE
From the Treasure of Petrijanec (Croatia); contains coins of Antoninus Pius, Lucius Verus, Julia Domna, and Gordian III.
Inside of bracelet showing reverse of Julia Domna coin depicting
Juno Regina with a peacock.
Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: aureus, jewelry
bronze statuette of Juno; Roman, first to third century CE
Detail: head of Juno.
The goddess wears a peplos, diadem, and veil; her right hand originally held a libation bowl (patera) and her left, a scepter.
Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: mythology, religion, Hera
mosaic of the comic mask of an old woman; Roman, third century CE, from Seville
Barcelona, Archaeological Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: drama, comedy
model of the Temple of Apollo on the Palatine; modern (plastico of fourth century CE city)
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: religion; city of Rome
life-size herm statue of a woman; Roman, Augustan period
This is one of three herms in black marble (nero antico) found on the Palatine near
the Temple of Apollo. These were most likely some of the 50 statues of the Danaids that
Augustus placed between the columns of the portico around the Temple of Palatine Apollo.
Rome, Palatine Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: daughters of Danaus
another life-size herm statue of a woman; Roman, Augustan period
This is another of the three herms in black marble (nero antico) found on the Palatine
near the Temple of Apollo. These were most likely some of the 50 statues of the Danaids that
Augustus placed between the columns of the portico around the Temple of Palatine Apollo.
Rome, Palatine Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: daughters of Danaus
polychrome terra-cotta relief of Apollo vs. Hercules; Roman, Augustan period
This is one of several reliefs that formed part of the decoration of the Temple of Palatine
Apollo; the classically-styled figures of Apollo and Hercules quarrel over the Delphic
tripod, perhaps evoking the struggle between Augustus (who claimed Apollo as his protector)
and Mark Antony (who identified himself with Hercules).
Rome, Palatine Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: Augustan symbolism; religion; mythology
polychrome terra-cotta relief of Perseus, Athena, Medusa; Roman, Augustan period
This is one of several reliefs that formed part of the decoration of the Temple of Palatine
Apollo; the classically-styled figures of Perseus and Athena hold the gorgon's head between
them.
Rome, Palatine Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: Augustan symbolism; religion; mythology
polychrome terra-cotta relief of Isis and sphinxes; Roman, Augustan period
This is one of several reliefs that formed part of the decoration of the Temple of Palatine
Apollo; Isis holds a sistrum and a plate of fruit; she is flanked by a female and a
male sphinx. The Egyptian symbolism may have recalled Augustus's vistory over Antony and
Cleopatra at Actium.
Rome, Palatine Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: Augustan symbolism; religion; mythology
marble tombstone of Helena; Roman, 150-200 CE
The inscription reads "To Helena, foster-child [alumna], well-deserving and incomparable soul." Although the language suggests
a human foster-child, only a dog is carved on the stone, so a wealthy family may have set up
this stone to commemorate a beloved pet that they thought of as a member of the family.
Malibu, Getty Villa. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: funerary; animal
marble bust of an unknown woman; Roman, 150-160 CE
The woman's hairstyle imitates that worn by the empress Faustina the Elder, wife of Antoninus Pius.
Malibu, Getty Villa. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: portrait
fragment of a wall painting;
detail: Cupid and Psyche; Roman, 50-75 CE
Beside a cupboard holding glass jars, two Cupids mix perfume in a large bowl. Another Cupid holds out an alabastron containing perfume to a seated Psyche, who appears to be smelling the scent on her arm.
Malibu, Getty Villa. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: erotes; shop
marble bust of Plotina; Roman, 98-117 CE
Pompeia Plotina was the wife of the emperor Trajan and received the title Augusta on or before 105 CE.
Rome, Palazzo Massimo alle Terme (National Museums). Credits: Barbara McManus, 2003
Keywords: portrait; empress
gilded glass gem of Augustus and Livia; Roman, c. 5-14 CE
smaller version
On the gem are the yoked (jugate) heads of Augustus and Livia; Augustus wears the laurel
wreath and Livia is shown with the nodus hairstyle.
Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: portrait; empress
onyx cameo of Livia holding the bust of the deified Augustus; Roman, shortly after 14 CE
detail: head of Livia.
In his will, Augustus adopted Livia into his family as Julia Augusta and made her the
priestess of his cult. Livia wears a diadem and has the attributes of several goddesses:
her mural crown suggests Fortuna/Tyche, the poppies and wheat in her hand suggest Ceres, the
shield or tympanum, decorated with a lion, and the seated pose suggest the Great Mother
Cybele, and the garment slipping off her shoulder suggests Venus Genetrix.
Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: portrait; empress
portrait bust of a woman; Roman, end of the first century BCE
side view
The features of the woman resemble those of Julia, daughter of Augustus. On top of her own
hair she wears a wig with the severe nodus hairstyle, which was adopted by Livia and
imposed on Julia as well.
Rome, Museo Montemartini (Capitoline Museums). Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: sculpture, women
bust of a young girl; Roman, early first century CE
The hairstyle resembles that of Antonia Minor and the formal style of the portrait suggests a
late Augustan date.
Rome, Museo Montemartini (Capitoline Museums). Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: sculpture, children
bust of Faustina the Elder; Roman, first century CE
Faustina Maior was the wife of the emperor Antoninus Pius.
Rome, Palazzo Nuovo (Capitoline Museums). Credits: Barbara McManus, 2003
Keywords: women, empress
jointed ivory doll; Roman, from a tomb on the Via Cassia, second-third century CE
The doll wears a diadem; her features and hairstyle probably recall those of an empress. Mirrors reflect the back of the doll.
Rome, Palazzo Massimo alle Terme (National Museums). Credits: Barbara McManus, 2003
Keywords: children, toy
sarcophagus lid commemorating a young girl; Roman, 120-140 CE
The sculpting technique and the
girl's hairstyle suggest a late
Hadrianic date. With her right hand, she pets a small dog; at the foot of the couch are
propped two small dolls (partly
broken off. On the back of the couch, over her right shoulder, sprawls a
small sleeping Cupid, whose left
leg is crossed under his right in imitation of the pose of the girl. The
fragmentary inscription
emphasizes her beauty and short life.
Malibu, Getty Villa. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: funerary; children
ivory figurine; Creto-Mycenaean, found in Mycenae, fifteenth century BCE
Two goddesses sit with arms intertwined while a divine child plays on their laps. It has been suggested that this tiny figurine (3" high) represents Demeter and Persephone, while the infant is Iacchus or Zagreus.
Athens, National Archaeological Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2002.
Keywords: mother goddess; Minoan
bronze head of Agrippa Postumus; Roman, possibly from Alexandria, c. 4 CE
Agrippa Postumus was the son of Julia and Agrippa, born after the death of his father; he was
adopted by Augustus in 4 CE, when this head was probably made, but was later exiled and
disinherited by Augustus.
Paris, Louvre Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 1999.
Keywords: Augustus, succession
marble head of Agrippa; Roman, from Gabies, c. 21 CE
side view.
Paris, Louvre Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 1999, 2009.
Keywords: Augustus, succession
marble head of Germanicus; Roman, from Athens, 4 CE
side view.
Germanicus was the popular son of Drusus Maior and Agrippina Maior; this portrait commemorated Tiberius's adoption of Germanicus mandated by Augustus.
Paris, Louvre Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 1999, 2009.
Parian marble head of Drusus the Elder; Roman, from Athens, 9 BCE to 2 CE
Drusus Maior was the second son of Livia and father of Germanicus and Claudius.
Paris, Louvre Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2009.
marble head of Drusus the Younger; Roman, c. 21 CE
Drusus the Younger was the son of Tiberius and Vipsania, who died in 23 CE.
Paris, Louvre Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 1999.
Keywords: Augustus, succession
replica of Roman fasti;
The fasti, lists of consuls and senators awarded a triumph (see
detail), were inscribed on public monuments such as the Regia.
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2003.
Keywords: magistrate; triumphator
iron ring with gilded portrait of Julius Caesar; Roman, c. 42 BCE
Caesar wears a laurel wreath, and behind his head is a jug for pouring libations. The ring may have belonged to a supporter of the Caesarian cause after the assassination of Caeasr.
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006.
terra-cotta lamp caricaturing Cleopatra; Roman, c 40-80 CE
A naked female with a melon hairdo sits astride a large human phallus on the back of a crocodile; she holds a palm branch in her hand. Though made about a century after Cleopatra's defeat and death, the lamp seems intended to caricature the Egyptian queen as a female who used her sexuality as a means to power.
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006.
bronze ceremonial rattle (sistrum); first or second century CE
This sistrum, allegedly found in the Tiber River at Rome, was probably used by a priest or priestess of Isis. The
decoration at the top portrays the she-wolf licking Romulus or Remus, perhaps suggesting an effort to "Romanize" the imported Egyptian rituals of Isis.
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006.
Keywords: religion
statue of Isis; Roman, 120-150 CE
In her left hand she holds a bucket (situla) used to contain sacred Nile water for the rituals. Behind the statue is a reconstruction drawing of the
Temple of Isis in Pompeii showing rituals in progress.
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006.
Keywords: religion
cameo of Trajan and Plotina; Roman, c. 105-115 CE
This sardonyx cameo portrays the emperor and his wife in the yoked (jugate) position often employed by Hellenistic rulers.
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006.
Keywords: empress
marble portrait bust of Claudia Olympias; Roman, early second century CE;
side view.
The
inscription reads MEMORIAE
CL[audiae] TI[berii] F[iliae] OLYMPIADIS EPITHYMETVS LIB[ertus] PATRONAE PIENTISSIMAE
("Epithymetus, her freedman, set this up in memory of Claudia Olympias, his most dutiful
patron").
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006.
Keywords: women; patronage; freedpeople; libertus
funerary relief of a married couple; from the Via Statilia in Rome, second quarter of the first century BCE;
detail of the wife with background removed.
Rome, Museo Montemartini (Capitoline Museums). Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: Republican sculpture, women
relief of a woman nursing an infant; Roman, imperial period
A temple is shown in the background, so the standing woman may be a priestess, and the man may be the child's father.
Rome, Chiaramonti Corridor, Vatican Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: baby; suckling; motherhood; family
statue of a goddess nursing an infant; late Hellenistic period
Rome, Chiaramonti Corridor, Vatican Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2003
Keywords: baby; suckling; motherhood; family
funerary stele of Maria Auxesis; from the Via Labicana, Rome, Trajanic period (98-117 CE)
The monument was dedicated by her friend and heir, Gaius Domitius Agathopus; he calls her his amica, a term usually indicating a mistress, though
Maria Auxesis is portrayed in a
severe style suitable for a married woman, with an elaborate hairstyle characteristic of the
period. The names suggest that both may be freedpeople. The
inscription reads D[is] M[anibus]
MARIAE AUXESI C[aius] DOMITIVS AGATHOPVS HERES EIVS AMICAE B[ene] M[erenti] FECIT QVAE
V[ixit] A[nnis] XLI.
Rome, Terme Diocleziano, (National Museums). Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: woman, tombstone
cinerary alter of Julia Capriola; from the Esquiline graveyard, Rome, Trajanic period (98-117 CE)
Julia Capriola is shown reclining on a banqueting couch (lectus) with a pillow behind her left elbow. She holds a cup as if to drink; before her is a small table with food. Her
sandals are carelessly tossed beneath
the couch, and she luxuriously stretches the toes of her bare foot. The
inscription reads D[is] M[anibus]
IVLIAE CAPRIOLAE V[ixit] A[nnis] XXXV M[ensibus] III D[iebus] XXV T[itus] FLAVIVS CHRYSIPPVS CONIVG[i] CARISSIMAE ET SANCTISSIMAE FECIT ET SIBI ET LIBERIS POSTERISQ[ue] EORVM.
Rome, Terme Diocleziano, (National Museums). Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: woman, tombstone
sarcophagus of Maconiana Severiana; Roman, 210-20 CE
side view;
view from other side
Maconiana died as a child, the daughter of parents of the senatorial class. Her sarcophagus
is decorated with scenes relating to
Bacchus (Dionysus), including small
tiles on the lid. Interestingly, the
face of Ariadne, where we would
expect a portrai of the deceased, has not been carved.
The
inscription reads D[is]
M[anibus] MACONIANAE SEVERIANAE FILIAE DVLCISSIMAE M[arcus] SEMPRONIVS PROCVLVS FAVSTINIANVS
V[ir] C[larissimus] ET PRAECILIA SEVERINA C[larissima] F[emina] PARENTES [hoc monumentum
fecerunt].
Santa Monica, Getty Villa. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: girl, tombstone, funerary
"Pollice Verso" ("Thumbs Turned"), painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1872
detail: gladiators and imperial box;
detail: Vestal Virgins turning their thumbs.
Phoenix, Phoenix Art Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: gladiators, combat; arena; sport; Vestal Virgins
Apollo pursuing Daphne, painting by Carlo Maratta, 1625-1713
Brussels, Royal Museum of Ancient Art of Belgium. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2003
Keywords: Ovid, Metamorphoses, mythology
Thisbe kills herself beside body of Pyramus, stained glass roundel by Jan Gossart, 1478-1552
Brussels, Royal Museum of Ancient Art of Belgium. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2003
Keywords: Ovid, Metamorphoses, mythology
"Landscape with the Fall of Icarus", painting by Pieter Brueghel the Elder, c. 1528-1569
detail: Icarus drowning
Brussels, Royal Museum of Ancient Art of Belgium. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2003
Keywords: Ovid, Metamorphoses, mythology
gilded silver relief medallion, made in Taranto, 300-200 BCE
Depicts Aphrodite at her toilette assisted by her son Eros and a young serving girl (see
detail). Incised around the rim
are various symbols associated with love and beauty, such as a fan, a flower, a butterfly,
a bird, a grasshopper, and a lyre.
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2001
Keywords: bathing; cosmetics; Venus; Cupid
bronze strigil, Etruscan, found in a sarcophagus from Praeneste (Palestrina), c. 300 BCE
another view of strigil
The handle is molded in the form of a
female athlete holding a strigil
(another view of girl).
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2001, 2006
Keywords: sport; scraper; bathing; baths
Go to Index, Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, Part XI, Part XII, Part XIII, Part XIV, Part XV, Roman Coins: Republic and Principate, Roman Coins: Empire, Greek Coins, Coins from the Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo, Coins from the National Museum in Warsaw, Poland, Coins from the Hunterian Museum
revised August, 2011
