Images

A marble bust of the Hellenistic philosopher Epicurus (341-270 BCE), founder of Epicureanism. 2nd century CE Roman copy of an earlier Greek original. (Vatican Museums, Rome)

A portrait of the Greek philosopher Antisthenes (c. 450-370 BCE), founder of the Cynic school of philosophy. 2nd century CE Roman copy of a 3rd century BCE original by Phyromachus. (Vatican Museums, Rome)

A Roman floor mosaic dating to between 350 and 375 CE and depicting a rabbit and trap. Food was a popular subject in mosaics throughout the Roman period. Provenance: Toragnola, Rome. (Vatican Museums, Rome).

A Roman floor mosaic dating to between 350 and 375 CE and depicting a mushrooms. Food was a popular subject in mosaics throughout the Roman period. Provenance: Toragnola, Rome. (Vatican Museums, Rome).

A Roman relief panel from a frieze depicting the goddess Leto fighting Giants. She holds a torch in each hand while the Giants prepare to throw large rocks. From a public building, discovered on the Oppius Hill, Rome. 2nd century CE. (Vatican...

A marble bust of the Titan Oceanus, a personification of the sea which the Greeks and Romans believed encircled the earth. Part of a fountain decoration at Hadrian's Villa, Rome, 2nd century CE. (Vatican Museums, Rome)

A statue of a Dacian prisoner with typical pointed hat (pileus) and costume. From Rome, purple-white marble, date unknown. (Vatican Museums, Rome)

A colossal marble head of Roman emperor Tiberius. From a public building in Rome, mid-1st century CE. (Vatican Museums, Rome)

A Roman marble relief depicting Mithras sacrificing a bull. From the Esquiline, Rome, date unknown. (Vatican Museums, Rome)

A marble statue of Ganymede, the Trojan prince from Greek mythology who was abducted from Mt. Ida by Zeus to become the gods' cupbearer. Found on the via Tuscolana, Rome, 2nd century CE. (Vatican Museums, Rome)